At a time when European airline carriers are cancelling hundreds of flights due to the soaring price of fuel caused by conflict in the Middle East, it’s no surprise that ‘geopolitical tensions’ has topped the list of concerns among corporate travel professionals in the region.
New industry insight from 192** corporate travel professionals released ahead of Business Travel Show Europe reveals a sector under intense pressure from geopolitical instability, cost inflation and rapidly evolving duty‑of‑care expectations, with technology disruption and border uncertainty adding further complexity.
Business Travel Show Europe is the longest-established and largest business travel event in Europe, attracting over 700 corporate travel buyers. The 32nd edition takes place 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London and free registration is now open.
With survey respondents invited to choose up to three options and more than 360 data points analysed, a clear picture emerges: external volatility is now the dominant force shaping corporate travel strategy following years of ‘cost cutting’ topping the annual poll.
Nearly half – 47% - of respondents cite geopolitical instability as their biggest challenge for 2026 - the strongest single signal in the dataset. Travel managers report dealing with unstable borders, sudden route changes, regional conflict, unpredictable government policies and supply‑chain disruption.
“This data aligns with wider industry sentiment that global instability is no longer a background risk but a daily operational variable. The conflict in the Middle East alone has triggered emergency repatriations, widespread fare inflation, cancellations, rerouting, travel bans and heightened traveller anxiety – it’s a daily changing minefield that’s keeping travel managers on their toes,” said Louis Magliaro, Executive VP of The BTN Group, organiser of the Business Travel Show series of global events.
