Corporate travel is witnessing a strong resurgence amid sustained economic growth, prompting airlines to introduce new features and tailored products for business travelers and SMEs. Leading Indian and international carriers are enhancing their offerings to cater to the growing demand.
IndiGo is set to expand its business-class services on the Delhi-Chennai route following the positive response to its premium product launched last November. CEO Pieter Elbers emphasized that the combination of business-class seating and a robust loyalty program is proving to be a significant asset for the airline.
Air India is focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a dedicated portal that offers attractive pricing and direct booking options. The airline has added over 1,700 corporate clients in recent years and is strengthening its sales team and product consistency following its Vistara merger.
International airlines are also keen to capture a share of the growing corporate travel market. Malaysia Airlines has revamped its corporate travel program, allowing customers to earn and redeem reward points for upgrades, extra baggage, and other perks. The airline is also offering preferential fares and personalized support for SME clients in India. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group, highlighted India’s importance as a key market.
Air Mauritius is targeting the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment, offering incentives to travel agents of ₹500-1,000 per passenger to boost corporate travel to the island nation. Meanwhile, destinations like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan are seeing an uptick in demand due to improved connectivity and increased capacity.
According to Thomas Cook India, corporate travel has grown by 13% year-on-year, with major demand from the IT, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. Sunny Sodhi, Managing Director of FCM India, noted that despite rising airfares and hotel rates, corporate travel continues to thrive, with business travel bookings growing by 6-8% in H2 2024 compared to H2 2023.
The top business travel destinations from India include Singapore, the UK, the US, the UAE, and France, reflecting the strong economic ties and trade relations between these markets. With political stability and economic momentum, airlines are set to capitalize on this growing demand by enhancing services for corporate travelers.
