ITB: Flat is the new growth for airlines
BERLIN – The latest ITB World Travel Trends Report, compiled by the consultancy IPK International, finds a short to mid-term rise in the price of airline tickets is to be expected worldwide.
Travellers will have to bear the cost of anticipated increases in taxes and charges by paying extra for tickets, according to the report.
The ITB World Travel Trends Report indicates that in order to become profitable again airlines will have to significantly adjust their ticket prices.
The findings are based on the assessments of 60 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor, recognised as the largest ongoing survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries.
The report notes that “current airline prices are clearly too low to allow airlines to become profitable again“.
Despite the worldwide recession the ITB World Travel Trends Report expects commercial aviation to grow dynamically over the next two decades.
The Chinese market is predicted to expand annually by around 8.4 percent, followed by the Asian-Pacific region (6.9 percent) and South America (estimated at 6.4 percent).
The European market is forecast to grow by 3.4 percent, lagging significantly behind the expected global average growth rate of 4.9 percent.
Dr. Martin Buck of ITB Berlin organisers, Messe Berlin, said, “The currently unanswered question facing the world’s airline industries is whether price-conscious consumers will continue to drive the downgrading trend we are seeing in bookings, or whether we will witness a return to the situation we had before the worldwide economic and financial crisis began.
“It also remains to be seen whether companies will limit their business travel to a minimum and how video conferences and other new forms of communication technology will influence travel behaviour.“
According to Dr. Buck the recession has already had a positive effect: “The over-capacity of the world’s airline industries has been reduced and older planes which consume large amounts of kerosene have been taken out of service.
“In the short term a full recovery of demand is unlikely.”
Describing the situation, Dr Buck added that “flat is the new growth“.
From December 15, the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2009/2010 can be downloaded free of charge from www.itb-berlin.com/media centre/publications.
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from March 10-14.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt