JUST WHERE IS THE RECOVERY?

By William Swelbar, Chief Industry Analyst, Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy

The Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA) asked Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy to provide analysis and commentary on happenings in the U.S. commercial aviation space. The following is the first of occasional articles about trends and events that affect the aviation ecosystem, information you can use as we all make our way through the industry’s recovery.

The Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy is a commercial aviation economic analysis and research firm. They specialize in complex issues regarding airlines, airports, and the aviation network; however, the fundamental focus always begins with changed airline thinking and how that might impact airports and the supply chain that supports the industry.

On March 29, the Wall Street Journal reporters Allison Pohle and Lauren Weber wrote that “Big corporate travel-management companies are hovering around 50% of 2019 booking levels, much of which is due to the lack of international travel.” In the same article, Delta Air Lines said “large corporate contracted travel business, primarily Fortune 500 companies, is about 65% of what it was compared with 2019. Travel for small and medium enterprises is about 5 to 10 percentage points higher, which has been consistent throughout the pandemic.”

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