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Business travelers in Europe still prefer flights over trains

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Business travelers in Europe still prefer flights over trains
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Lufthansa Airline | Wikipedia

In Europe, train travel has long been seen as a sustainable alternative to air travel, supported by government subsidies to reduce flights when trains are viable. Most European passengers will choose trains over planes, assuming similar price and travel time.

However, business travelers, especially those frequently traveling across the European Union, still prefer flying under most circumstances. Despite corporate efforts to reduce carbon emissions, business travelers prioritize speed and schedule convenience, often leading them to choose air travel over trains.

"Those traveling on business will overwhelmingly look for flights that arrive before 9 AM and leave around 5:30 PM, which conform to the easiest corporate schedules." This demand results in higher prices for peak hour flights, as legacy carriers adjust schedules to meet business needs.

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Business travelers typically book flights late and need ticket flexibility, making last-minute travel decisions. International rail networks in Europe are limited, often requiring multiple transfers, reducing the attractiveness of trains for cross-border travel. Even on popular routes like Paris-Frankfurt, "flying is overwhelmingly faster, with flights taking just around 70 minutes," despite the entire journey taking similar time due to airport logistics.

In conclusion, for business travelers, air travel offers time savings and convenience, maintaining its popularity despite the benefits of high-speed rail options.

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