The airlines are always struggling, so you can imagine how the crisis must be affecting their already fragile business model. Leisure travel is down, and even the typically reliable revenue from price-insensitive business travelers is under attack by companies looking to trim fat wherever they can. USA Today sums up the latest bad news, with some happy benefits for business travelers:
Pursuing the business traveler. When times are tough, travel suppliers focus on their best customers, those who generate most of their revenue and profit. Even in this dismal economy many airlines are upgrading first- and business-class cabins and service, particularly on long-haul routes. But the pursuit of business travelers isn’t limited to long-haul, global airlines. Southwest recently implemented priority boarding and free cocktails for full fare “Business Select” travelers, and pushed families with small children back in the boarding process. Southwest has also installed special seating with power outlets and USB hookups in their boarding areas, and is touting its no-change-fee policy to attract business travelers. Southwest and jetBlue are also among a growing number of airlines testing Wi-Fi in-flight.
USA Today: Ten trends affecting business travel in 2009
(Photo courtesy of smaedli. Thanks to Chris Brogan for the link!)
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