The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has called on future EU leaders to prioritise the “streamlining” of the passenger experience and the decarbonising of travel over the next five years.
GBTA set out its policy priorities for the next European Parliament, which will be elected in June, in a new document covering the forthcoming EU session running from later this year to 2029.
Suzanne Neufang, GBTA’s CEO, said: “GBTA remains committed to working with the European institutions to advise on how the business travel sector can continue to bring Europeans together for work, commerce and diplomacy while achieving the EU’s ambitious plans for the green transition.
“We ask future EU leaders to consider and then support our policy priorities, and we look forward to working with them for the next five years.”
GBTA said it was “advocating for well-considered policies” from EU lawmakers following June’s elections, which would ensure business travel’s “continued contribution to Europe's competitiveness and green transition over the next five years”.
The association is calling for the completion of major initiatives to digitalise travel procedures, such as the much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES), which is currently due to be launched in October 2024, and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), now set for implementation in mid-2025.
“These would cut unnecessary red tape and ease administrative procedures for business travellers. In addition, the EU should prioritise the ongoing revision of its passenger rights regulations as they would enhance the protection of travellers in the event of unforeseen circumstances,” added GBTA.
The association is also urging continued EU support for the decarbonisation of travel by making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more widely available, including a “clearer EU legislative framework” to incentivise and facilitate this process.
Modernising the EU’s ticket distribution regulations to allow more multi-modal travel options is another key ask from the GBTA.
“As demand for combining different transport options − particularly greener alternatives − grows among business travellers, the EU's planned regulation to promote multimodal travel offers a welcome solution to address currently limited options,” added the association.
The EU’s Multimodal Digital Mobility Services (MDMS) is designed to make it easier for travellers to plan, compare and buy tickets digitally for journeys combining different modes of transport in the EU. But its implementation has been delayed - much to the frustration of business travel groups.