11.2% growth projected for MENA...

Average cost of business class flights has passed US$2,000

A study, conducted by online business travel platform Tumodo and partnership marketing platform Admitad, predicts significant shifts in business travel trends across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2024.

Globally, the business travel market is expected to reach a value of US$1.48 trillion, while the Middle East could see a growth rate of 11.2%, according to the new research.

The report states that, in corporate travel, 88% of airline tickets booked are economy class, 10% are business class and just 2% are first class. The average price of economy class flights within the MENA region has reached US$205, while economy class flights from MENA to Europe, Asia and America average US$510. The average cost of business class fares has reached US$2,084.

Based on more than 500,000 travel purchases from Q1 2022 to Q1 2024, the report also highlights increased car rentals and a growing shift towards mobile booking.

On the ground, there's been a 17% increase in car rentals for business trips this year, compared to 2023, indicating a growing preference for flexible transportation options.

In Q1 2024, the top sources of purchases were targeted and contextual ads, accounting for 25% of sales, and content platforms, contributing 22% of sales. These figures suggest a diversification in booking channels and highlight the importance of a multi-channel approach for travel companies.

Admitad CEO Anna Gidirim said: “From 2022 to 2024, there has been a noticeable increase in mobile sales, growing to 32%. This rise can be attributed to several factors, including companies' focus on user-friendly interfaces, transparent spending monitoring, and integrating new AI-driven technologies.”

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