GBTA survey: Lufthansa surcharge affecting bookings

According to a new global survey conducted by Global Business Travel Association and its European partner network, approximately 42 per cent of travel buyers surveyed have decreased bookings with Lufthansa since it implemented a GDS surcharge in September.

On Sept. 1, the Lufthansa Group implemented a €16 per booking surcharge on travel purchased anywhere other than its websites, service centers and airport ticket counters.

Additionally, the GBTA said that 93 per cent of those surveyed are currently not considering the option to book directly on Lufthansa’s site and 39 per cent are seeking alternative carriers. Only two per cent of travel buyers surveyed said that they would book directly with Lufthansa to avoid the €16 fee, according to the GBTA.

GBTA’s survey of global traveler buyers was conducted online between Oct. 14 and 19. In total, 434 travel buyers representing an estimated $44B in global buying power participated in the survey.