Business passengers ‘accept delays’

People travelling for business purposes are more willing to accept delayed flights because they travel frequently and can use designated lounges, it has been claimed.

People travelling for business purposes are more willing to accept delayed flights because they travel frequently and can use designated lounges, it has been claimed.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager for the Air Transport Users Council, said: “[Business] passengers can relax in lounges when they are delayed. It’s a service come out of the fact that they travel business class … and they expect the delays.”

A poll of executive travellers as part of the 2008 Barclaycard Business Travel Survey seemed to show that this acceptance of a longer wait could come in response to an acknowledgement of greater security measures.

Some 48 per cent said they would like to see enhanced security such as that seen at airports on other forms of transport, while 45 per cent said they are most concerned about security when travelling on business.

Anyone travelling for work-related matters may be interested in booking flights to South Africa, which currently ranks 28th on the Union of International Associations’ top meeting destinations, hosting 23 per cent of all business liaisons on the continent.