Corporate Travel Buyers Face Rising Airfares in 2027
Rising airfares, securing better supplier value and improving policy compliance top corporate travel buyers’ concerns for 2027, according to new research from Business Travel Show America
The show opens today at the Javits Center in New York and runs through October 15.
A total of 204 corporate travel buyers participated in this year’s survey, which asked respondents to select up to three of the biggest challenges they expect to face when managing their corporate travel programs in 2027.
With Brent crude oil prices recently exceeding $100 a barrel, concerns over rising airfares remain prominent. The proportion of buyers identifying airline costs as a major challenge has doubled from 15% in 2025 to 30% this year.
Securing better value from suppliers was also identified by 30% of respondents, while 29% cited improving policy compliance and reducing leakage as a key challenge.
Top results are as follows:
Looking ahead to 2027
“What’s striking about these findings is, despite discussion around AI and emerging technologies, corporate travel buyers are heading into 2027 focused on some familiar challenges: cost, supplier value and compliance,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive Vice President, the BTN Group.
“The solutions to these challenges are evolving rapidly and it’s important for buyers to understand how new technologies, stronger supplier partnerships and smarter program strategies can help them deliver more value with the resources available, and that’s where Business Travel Show America steps in. Over the next two days, we’re bringing hundreds of buyers, suppliers and industry experts together to share practical solutions, discover innovations, gain fresh insights, and help shape stronger corporate travel programs for the year ahead.”
Technology integration
A further 28% of respondents identified finding, understanding and implementing the right technology solutions as one of their biggest challenges. This reflects growing pressure on travel managers to build tech stacks equipped to manage increasingly complex travel programs; including integrating AI-enabled tools, and improving traveler experiences, risk management solutions and advanced analytics capabilities.
Traveler experience high on the agenda
Managing traveler expectations against budget constraints was identified by 22% of respondents. As employees increasingly expect consumer-grade booking experiences, greater flexibility and personalized travel options, travel managers continue to face the challenge of balancing traveler satisfaction with corporate spending controls and tech capabilities.
Uncertainty continues to shape planning
External risks also remain firmly on buyers’ radars, reinforcing the extent to which broader market conditions continue to influence travel program strategy and decision-making:
- Geopolitical uncertainty: 21%
- Supporting business growth in new markets and regions: 20%
- Economic uncertainty: 17%
Addressing the challenges at Business Travel Show America
As corporate travel buyers prepare for 2027, Business Travel Show America opens today at the Javits Center in New York, bringing together more than 150 suppliers alongside corporate travel and procurement professionals to explore practical solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Across the two-day event, buyers can evaluate new suppliers, strengthen existing relationships, benchmark their programs with industry peers, and discover technologies designed to improve efficiency, compliance and traveler experiences.
The event also features independent education sessions developed by the BTN Group, buyer-only networking opportunities and the Business Travel Innovation Faceoff, where 12 innovators showcase emerging solutions for the corporate travel industry.
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