Corporate travel between Spain and China, on the rise

The development of the business travel sector in China is being felt in trade relations between Spain and the Asian country. According to data from American Express Global Business Travel España, there are routes between the two countries that have experienced considerable growth during the last year in terms of corporate travel.

This is the case of the routes Beijing-Barcelona, whose increase in ticket sales was 48% last year compared to 2016; Beijing-Madrid, with 41%; Barcelona-Shanghái, which increased by almost 17%;n-Madrid, with 41%; Barcelona-Shanghái, which increasedó almost 17% in 2017;  or Madrid-Shanghái, 9% more.

 Likewise, airlines have also reinforced their commitment to opening new routes between Spain and China or strengthening existing ones.

Air France-KLM has increased its routes  in recent years with 9 destinations and 201 flights a week between the two countries. In addition, in recent years it has signed an alliance with China Eastern and China Southern. Iberia launched its direct flight to Shanghai from Madrid in 2016.Air China has had the Madrid-Beijing flight since 2016 and the Barcelona-Beijing flight since last year. China Eastern also reopened its Madrid-Shanghíi route in 2016. 

According to ethe Business Travel Barómetro for China, closed in 2017 and conducted by American Express Global Business Travel, despite 75% of business travel spending by Chinese companies being spent on domestic travel, Chinese business travel, despite 75% of business travel spending by Chinese companies being spent on domestic travel, Chinese business travel;Despite the fact that 75% of Chinese companies' business travel spending is for domestic travel, global trade and the internationalization of companies is taking off, creating opportunities for corporate travel beyond the country's borders.

The survey results also show that the traveler experience is gaining ground among the concerns of companies in China, as it is in other regions, such as Europe and the United States. In fact, survey participants say that traveler comfort and well-being are on a par with cost optimization, and safety is emerging as the top priority for companies.To corroborate this conclusion, the survey found that 31% of Chinese companies plan to increase their corporate travel budgets. Developing new business relationships and building loyalty with existing customers are the main reasons for Chinese companies to spend on business travel.

 

 

.