Published on
August 31, 2025
The business travel scene is on the rise once more in 2025, with the UK, US, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland emerging as the leading destinations for international corporate travel. Their position is justified by the performing economies, the presence of international corporate hubs, and the global business connectivity of these countries. The United States remains the top destination due to its concentration of multinational headquarters, major financial centres, and key technology and research industries. Germany and Netherlands equally receive a high volume of business travellers due to their strong industrial bases, export-oriented economies, and their well-connected major airports. The United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland also benefitting receive high traffic due to their cultural, financial and technological sectors which witnessing many international meetings, conferences and corporate collaborations. Their strong international business support, combined with stable airfare and growing travel budgets have these countries firmly entrenched on the business travel routes.
Business travel is demonstrating robust recovery and sustained momentum in 2025, with recent industry data revealing a steady or growing travel budget for the majority of organisations worldwide. According to a comprehensive global survey of corporate travel patterns, nearly nine out of ten business travellers expect their travel expenditure to either remain stable or increase this year, a trend mirrored closely among travel managers and financial leaders.
A deep dive into international flight bookings provides further insight into the current business travel landscape. Analysis of air travel data from the first half of 2025 shows that international business travel volume has increased by 2.6% compared to the same period in 2024. This growth, however, is not evenly distributed across the two quarters: Q1 recorded a year-over-year increase of 4.5%, while Q2 saw a modest rise of just 0.6%, highlighting the seasonal patterns that continue to shape global travel trends.
Business travellers from North America spend the most on international flights, with average ticket prices reaching $2,675. These travellers often embark on long-haul trips to distant regions rather than neighbouring countries, driving higher average costs. Similarly, Japanese travellers average $1,950 per ticket for international flights. European travellers, in contrast, tend to focus on nearby destinations, such as intra-continental journeys, with Italian business travellers spending an average of $719 per flight.
In North America, cross-border travel between Canada and the United States remains largely unchanged, with nearly 80% of Canadian business trips directed toward the U.S., maintaining a consistent pattern from the previous year.
Destination preferences illustrate the continued prominence of the United States as the world’s top international business travel location. During the first half of 2025, the U.S. accounted for 15.3% of all international business trips globally, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom, which represented 7.7% and 7.6%, respectively. Other top destinations included Canada, France, and Spain, underscoring Europe and North America’s ongoing appeal in corporate itineraries.
The quarterly breakdown highlights the enduring influence of Q1 on annual travel volumes, as global travel rose 2.6% year-over-year. Although travel in Q2 experienced an 8.4% decline compared to Q1, this aligns with historical patterns in which the first quarter consistently drives the majority of business travel activity.
Even with shifts in travel demand, global airfare rates have shown strong stability. Following a high of $1,688 in early 2024, the average cost of international tickets remained nearly unchanged, settling at $1,681 in the first quarter of 2025 and $1,684 in the second quarter. This stability indicates that airlines are successfully balancing supply and demand, even as the market experiences growing international travel activity.
The United Kingdom continues to maintain a strong outbound business travel presence, with the United States leading as the most popular destination, representing 20% of all UK international business trips. Germany follows with 13%, and the Netherlands ranks third at 7.7%. UK business travel activity held steady during the first half of 2025, showing a modest 0.5% rise compared to the same period in 2024. Quarter-by-quarter analysis shows a 2.5% growth in Q1, followed by a 1.6% decline in Q2, further highlighting seasonal travel trends.
Ticket pricing trends from the UK indicate a moderate increase, with Q1 average fares rising 6.2% year-over-year to $1,477 per ticket, and Q2 fares up 7.8% at an average of $1,460. These numbers highlight the steady strength of travel demand while showing the gradual effects of rising airfare costs.
The overall data presents a clear picture: business travel remains a cornerstone of global commerce. Organisations continue to invest in travel as a critical component of corporate strategy, recognising its role in facilitating meetings, conferences, and international collaboration. The steady growth in travel volume and stable airfare pricing underscore the sector’s ongoing recovery and its importance in supporting business performance across regions.
In the increasingly intricate global marketplace, the importance of international business travel for connecting people, maintaining partnerships, and achieving business goals is still vital. The travel industry is not only adapting to new corporate demands, but is also resilient, as evidenced by the trends for the first half of 2025; there is ongoing investment, engagement, and participation from both travelers and corporations around the world.
