Despite global uncertainty, international business travel is showing steady recovery. Data from SAP Concur’s Concur Travel platform indicates that between January and June 2025, business travel volumes rose 2.6% compared with the same period in 2024.
The rebound comes amid renewed confidence. According to the 2025 Global Business Travel Survey, 89% of business travelers, 93% of travel managers, and 90% of CFOs expect budgets to remain stable or increase this year.
Regional cost gap
The year began on solid footing: first-quarter volumes climbed 4.5%. Growth slowed in the second quarter, rising just 0.6% and dropping 8.4% from the previous quarter. The pattern is not unusual—Q1 traditionally marks the busiest season for corporate travel, anchoring the business travel calendar.
While demand is recovering, cost disparities remain striking. US travelers spend an average of $2,675 per international ticket, reflecting longer travel distances. Japan follows at $1,950 per ticket. By contrast, Italian business travelers pay about $719 on average, largely for shorter intra-European trips, according to SAP Concur.
Despite these gaps, average global ticket prices have held steady. After peaking at $1,688 in early 2024, fares averaged $1,681 in Q1 2025 and $1,684 in Q2, underscoring surprising stability amid high demand.
The United States stays on top
The United States remains the leading hub for international business travel, accounting for 15.3% of global trips in the first half of 2025. Germany and the UK ranked second and third, with 7.7% and 7.6% of trips respectively. Canada, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Mexico, China, and Italy rounded out the top 10, highlighting the dominance of North American and European hubs in global commerce.
A Strategic Lever for Business
Beyond the data, one trend is clear. Business travel remains a cornerstone of global growth strategies. Rising volumes, steady fares, and the concentration of travel around leading hubs reflect its enduring role. In a rapidly shifting world, face-to-face connections remain critical to building relationships, expanding markets, and sustaining competitiveness.
