While 2023 was largely viewed by the business travel
industry as the most stable since 2019, it was not without its challenges as
our rundown of BTN Europe’s most-read content reveals.
Among the 1,000-plus news stories published on this website last
year, articles concerning three key themes garnered the most page views among
readers: transport strikes, rising costs and content fragmentation.
Strikes by air traffic controllers, security
staff, ground handling providers, train drivers and pilots caused disruption
across the continent, notably in Italy in both the spring and autumn, in France
as workers opposed pension reform proposals, in Germany, and in the UK which
was hit by train strikes on numerous occasions throughout the year.
In a year that saw airlines ramp up the provision of NDC
content and, in some cases, remove fares from traditional channels, it was not
surprising to see news article pertaining to content fragmentation among the
most-viewed on BTN Europe.
Top of the lot was Air France-KLM’s plans to withdraw some ‘Light’
fares from traditional EDIFACT-based channels. The airlines also postponed the
introduction of its GDS surcharge to July 2024 and signed a new distribution
deal with Sabre.
Meanwhile, SAS’ decision to abandon its planned wholesale
model after signing a new deal with Amadeus, a story broken by BTN Europe, was
also among the most-read articles of the year.
Staff shortages that hit the industry in 2022 lingered in
2023, with Lufthansa in February having to cut some 34,000 flights from its
planned summer schedule.
In the summer, meanwhile, an in-depth article on how Ryanair’s
facial recognition requirements was causing issues for those booking through
third parties struck a chord with buyers, with the article ultimately claiming
a place among the ten most-read of the year.
POINTS OF VIEW
The five most-read guest columns in 2023
Personlisation is the future of the travel industry – here’s
why
By Michael
Riegel, general manager, Navan Europe
How the EU has fixed ESG
By David
Duffy, CEO and co-founder, Corporate Governance Institute
Airlines’ pursuit of direct corporate business spells
trouble
By Clive Wratten, CEO, the Business Travel Association
Doughnut economics presents promising model for sustainable
prosperity
By Julien Etchanchu,
senior director, sustainability, Advito
Don’t let the pursuit of perfection impede innovation
By Ian
Spearing, global innovation & technology leader, EY
Back on the ground, Eurostar Group’s new brand unveiling
following the merger of Eurostar and Thalys caught the attention of readers as
the operator also set out its goal of doubling passenger numbers by 2030.
On the TMC front, TripActions’ re-branding to Navan caught
the attention of many readers while the most-read M&A news story came in August
when Clarity Business Travel announced its acquisition of fellow UK TMC Agiito
from Capita plc.
Completing the rundown of most-read news in 2023
is a series of articles concerning travel regulations. At the start of the
year, new traveller data requirements in Spain were cause for concern among
some industry bodies while June saw the UK name the price of applications for its
new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.
A similar scheme from the EU, the European
Travel Information and Authorisation System, which has been postponed several
times, was delayed once again, with its launch now slated for spring 2025.