The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s largest business travel association, is calling on the European Commission to address the staff shortages threatening the industry’s recovery. The current six-week background checks required for employees working at airports and in the airline sector is causing a bottleneck, and delay to the smooth travel experience required by business travellers. GBTA is calling for the European Union to temporarily adapt these regulations as a matter of priority to ease pressure on airports and the airline industry.

Projected to reach pre-COVID 19 levels of US $1.4 trillion in revenue by 2024, business travel bookings are seeing increases rebound month on month. However, travel managers cite staffing shortages and government policies and restrictions as having a significant impact on corporate travel programs, according to the latest poll of GBTA members. Travel suppliers share the same concerns, as more than half report their travel programs are most impacted by staffing shortages*.

“Companies and employees are getting back to travelling for business, fueled by the need to generate revenue and retain and acquire new business. Staff shortages, however, are having a significant impact on travel programs and are threatening to affect the speed and trajectory of recovery of the business travel industry. GBTA is calling on the European Commission to prioritize and expediate the needed safety background checks to help alleviate the pressure at airports. The EU must set policies and procedures in place for the future as a precautionary measure should the situation arise again,” said Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President, EMEA for GBTA.

*Source: GBTA Business Travel Recovery Poll, June 2022