RIP Business Travel?

Just coming off a family vacation this past weekend, so in a somewhat related sense, this week’s article is about travel. For many of us, the chance to have a vacation and get away from it all is a pleasure that has been taken away this year. For others, travel was a substantial part of their work; myself included. With so many Frequent Fliers grounded this year due to COVID, is it possible that the traditional Business Trip as we know it may be a thing of the past?
My Father and my Grandfather were both Global Travelers. In the last few years with my current role, I have carried on that family tradition, and I love it! Last year alone I flew over 150k miles, circled the earth once and visited at least 8 countries – some for the first time in my life. I love the adventure of the journey and the chance to see so many different cultures. You could say it’s in my blood. Traveling around the world was a big part of why I love my job. While not always glamorous (I did miss Father’s Day due to a flight cancellation once) it has it perks. It’s easy to become accustomed to the airline lounges and hotel hospitality.
Many of those perks from flying are gone for now due to COVID. Just in the past two weeks, a few close friends who know my affinity for travel have called me right after their own flights. The conversation typically starts with, “you were the first person I had to call” quickly followed with something to the effect of “its not fun anymore.” Their sad reports cover empty airports, closed shops and restaurants, revised screening, security and boarding protocols; all characterized as depressing.
More signs that Business Travel won’t be what it used to be can be derived from the accelerated demise of the four engine intercontinental jets. The Airbus A380 (largest passenger plane in service) and the “Queen of the Skies”, the 747, have both had their retirement dates moved up to now. The volume of passenger traffic cannot justify the operating costs for such large airplanes. The Boeing 787 is leading the way in what will most likely be the new normal of global travel; less passengers and more efficiency. Additionally, look to domestic airlines increasing the number of regional jets in lieu of widebody jets. All signs continue to point to a suppressed number of passengers and flights continuing through 2021.
In my professional conversations with leaders in HR, there are often discussions about how and when to even consider resuming or “rebooting” business travel. Professional Roundtable discussions I’ve attended attempt to find answers for how Business Professionals can operate in a virtual, contactless world. Will messages or e-mails with embedded video suffice? Probably not. The opportunity to develop rapport and trust is much more difficult via a Zoom or WebEx than it is in person. There’s a reason conferences are still held in large venues and restaurants are great places to close deals, people value the personal connections.
The considerations for travel are now something of a matrixed decision when it comes to the who, what, when, where and why. Just because one organization determines it may be ready to allow their people to travel, will those that they visit be willing to have them? Between quarantines, no middle seats, temperature checks, masks and testing, testing, testing; it would seem we’re still a ways off from where we were in January this year.
The “Why” for Business Travel will also need substantial justification, not just in the business sense, but for the individual as well. The burden to travel is likely to be a detractor for many Frequent Fliers who wouldn’t have given a second thought to jumping on a plane for a meeting. Businesses too will be hesitant to place their employees in situations that may involve a health risk or extended delays. There will be much more for employees and their employers to consider when it comes to restarting Business Travel.
Even with the burdensome requirements and lack luster sentiment I’ve heard from friends, I still long for the day I can get back on a plane. I may be envisioning something that may be gone, but I’m hopeful that much of the joy of travel can return. Fortunately, my son has advanced his interest in becoming a pilot so we’ve been looking into flight schools and taken some trips out to the airport for some “Plane Spotting.” It helps to get my aviation fix.
I’ve discovered a YouTube video blogger, Sam Chui to get me through these tough times. He’s the leading Aviation Blogger and, up to COVID, documented his travels around the globe. He loves to fly and loves all things about commercial aviation. Definitely worth a look. Sadly, it’s going to be a while until many of us get back into any travel routine for work. My hope is we can mitigate the risk soon so that the COVID variable is all but removed from travel. Until that time, unfortunately any return of Business Travel is tied inextricably to a COVID recovery.