The fuel cost-driven increases in air fares
and, to a lesser extent, ground transportation, have gotten the
attention of most corporate travel managers, a new survey by the
National Business Travel Association shows.
The NBTAs survey of
92 corporate travel managers, conducted between April 27 and May 3,
found growing concern about rising prices. Two-thirds of managers,
the NBTA found, said department heads and other budget stakeholders
are concerned about how they can maintain 2006 travel budgets and
meet business needs amid rising air fares and gas
prices.
Just over half of
the respondents said fuel price hikes have added $51 to $100 to the
average cost of a domestic business trip. Another 13% said the
hikes have added $101 to $150 to the cost, and 10% said theyve
added $151 or more.
The impact is
showing up most on air travel decisions.
While 69% of
respondents are continuing to purchase air travel at the same rate,
most are implementing tighter controls or encouraging travel
alternatives, the NBTA survey said.
Ground
transportation decisions have not been affected as much: Nearly
half of the respondents indicated their firm hasnt changed its
ground transportation policies.
The NBTA said
travel managers seem to be in wait-and-see mode on ground
transportation. That could be, in part, because most of them have
not seen fuel surcharges added to car rental agreements. But, among
the travel managers who havent seen fuel surcharges yet, nearly
half are expecting to.