That's a wrap on 2025 business travel
If the numbers say anything about 2025, it’s this: SMEs were on the move. Flights were full, new routes opened rapidly, and businesses tackled the complexities of travel head-on—pursuing growth with determination, innovation, and smarter planning.
Whether you rely on data or intuition, one thing is clear: business travel played a key role in driving success in 2025. Let’s break down the who, where, why and wow of SME travel this year.
Numbers up, wheels up: SME travel demand soared in 2025
Businesses agreed that face-to-face connection was worth the investment this year. The appetite for getting out there (literally) hit new heights, and the data backs it up.
In our latest state of the market report, the stats show:
Demand wasn't the only thing rising - budgets were too.
Homegrown highlights
With 14k flights into Melbourne in January, driven by the corporate buzz of the Australian Open, and 249k flights departing the city across the year, Melbourne proved to be a major business travel hotspot in 2025.
Meanwhile, mining and construction industry powered ahead, making up 35% of all corporate bookings. With major projects up and running, regional runways and roadside servos were busier than ever!
Trans-Tasman tales and Kiwi connections
Trans-Tasman travel kept climbing in 2025, with traffic between Australia and New Zealand up 10% year on year.
To keep pace, airlines added more seats and new ways to cross the ditch:
- Qantas reinstated its Adelaide–Auckland service and increased frequency on popular routes
- Jetstar announced its first international departure from Western Sydney Airport: a direct link to Auckland.
International leaps and smarter seats
SMEs leaned into comfort and productivity in 2025, with premium economy becoming the upgrade of choice — climbing 35% in Q1 despite rising fares. Business-class demand also soared across key Asian hubs, jumping 60% to Hong Kong and 57% to China, showing that travellers were prioritising productivity, better rest, stronger Wi-Fi and smarter connections over the cheapest ticket.
Meanwhile, the Australia–Asia corridor went into overdrive. Airlines added new flights and pumped significant capacity into the region, creating faster, easier access to the markets SMEs care about most: India up 346%, Vietnam up 263% and South Korea up 153% compared to pre-pandemic levels. More seats meant more choice, better timings and sharper deals for business travellers.
Tom Walley, our Global Managing Director, says the shift is significant for Australian corporates. “It highlights how airlines are racing to keep pace with the popularity in Australia–Asia business. Direct routes are increasing, codeshare agreements are multiplying, and we’re seeing renewed demand for premium cabins, as carriers boost seat capacity to keep pace with intensifying trade ties and the renewed emphasis on face-to-face engagement across the region.”
Rollin’ through the regions
Who says the big smoke gets all the glory? In 2025, travel to regional Australia was on the rise. Travel to non-capital cities lifted 11% year on year, with Mildura +44% and Wagga Wagga growing. In Coolangatta alone, travellers booked over 20,000 room nights.
What was important for SME business travel programs this year?
From savings to support, our Corporate Traveller stats reveal that our customers got what mattered to them most.
Making every dollar work harder
Saving money in 2025? You bet! Between January and November, we helped customers pocket a cool $105 million in savings on their travel program. We shaved $101.8 million off airfares, knocked $14 million off hotel stays, and even wrangled $1.7 million in car hire savings.
Smart tech, better-value fares
Our customers were ahead of the curve in 2025, thanks to our early leadership in NDC adoption and the biggest rollout of NDC access in Australia. Now, over 95% of our travellers get the good stuff: better flight options, juicier fares, and fresh choices on tap. One standout this year? A Brisbane–Cairns fare that landed 25% cheaper through NDC, giving SMEs a welcome win for the bottom line.
Disruptions? No biggie!
When things went pear-shaped, our team swooped in to help. We fielded 96,553 emergency requests last year, supporting travellers through flight delays, cancellations, and last-minute rebookings. Take Cyclone Alfred, for example: 7,000+ travellers caught in the storm, but with over 700 flight changes, 232 fresh bookings, and a stack of airline waivers negotiated, we turned travel turbulence into smooth sailing.
From carbon footprints to conscious choices
As businesses looked to reduce their environmental impact, we provided the data and tools to help them make informed choices. Across our customer base, average emissions sat at 0.15kg CO₂e per air kilometre and 23kg CO₂e per hotel night, giving teams a clearer picture of their footprint. This aligned with a broader trend toward more thoughtful, productivity-focused premium travel — where value and impact go hand in hand.
Precision, policy, and productivity
In a year where SMEs pushed for smarter, more efficient ways to manage travel, 48% of ANZ businesses named automated expense tracking as their most transformative need. As travel activity rose, demand grew for faster approvals, real-time reporting and better policy alignment. Corporate Traveller delivered all three — helping businesses stay compliant, improve efficiency and see exactly where every travel dollar was going.
What’s next for SME travel in 2026?
Aussie SMEs hit the tarmac with purpose, chasing growth in Asia, hopping the ditch, and picking travel options that made every kilometre count. With more demand and more destinations on the radar, one thing’s crystal clear: you want a partner who’s got your back when the wheels are up and when the plan hits turbulence.
Here’s the bottom line: smart travel is more than picking the right seat—it’s about seeing where your money’s going, keeping costs under wraps, and knowing there’s a real human ready to help when plans go sideways. If 2026’s looking busier for you, you’ll want us in your corner—making work trips smoother, savvier, and a whole lot simpler.
Keen for smoother take-offs and touchdown triumphs in 2026?
Give us a shout—let’s turn your next business trip into smooth sailing, big savings, and zero stress.