Innovative travel tech startups remain on M&A agenda
On August 26th, Skift’s Sean O’Neill reported banking and finance giant Capital One’s acquisition of Freebird. Freebird offers smarter flight insurance and disruption services and is a very interesting acquisition for a card provider to augment its existing insurance offerings as well as potentially include ‘smart insurance’ to its credit card users. With credit card companies locked in a battle for new customers, is this string in Capital One’s bow an attempt at winning private and corporate clients from Citi, Amex and other leading credit card providers?
Airline pricing at most volatile this year
FairFly was in the news this week announcing the publication of its new Airfare Volatility Index. Business Travel News reported the latest findings that between June and July, volatility jumped 152% with airline prices swinging wildly as revenue management systems struggle with supply and demand.
Technology can’t supplant face-to-face
In an Op-Ed piece by Pittsburgh International Airport CEO, Christina Cassotis talks about the value of face-to-face contact for business growth, “…make no mistake, business travel will come back, sooner for some than for others. Technology helps, but it will never be enough to satisfy the need to pick up the live visual cues that make for the most effective communication, for getting deals done, and for solidifying relationships that lead to long-term value.”
FCM increasing market share a ray of light
PhocusWire this week reported on the FCM announcement that despite increased overall losses its business travel divisions have significantly outperformed, winning AU$390 million in new business for 2021.
Moving forwards with airline partnerships – Webinar
This week as part of Business Travel News’ Town Hall Webinar Series, travel industry experts Hillary Dallas (Aon), Hank Benedetti (American Airlines), Louise Miller (Areka Consulting) and our own Aviel Siman-Tov join BTN’s Michael Baker to walkthrough how corporates should approach airline negotiations and what they should expect from airline pricing in the future.