Isra-Mart srl:Has the recession marked the end of the runway for business flights?

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Growing numbers of businesses are making a permanent commitment to fly less in the wake of the recession as part of an attempt to cut emissions and improve staff productivity.

That is the conclusion of a major new survey of more than 150 of the UK's largest firms undertaken by environmental charity WWF, which found that not only have 47 per cent of firms reduced the number of business flights they have taken in the past two years, but 85 per cent of those have no intention of returning to the "business as usual" level of flights.

The report, entitled Moving on: why flying less means more for business, also found that 86 per cent of firms are either reducing the carbon footprint of their travel activities or intend to do so, while almost two thirds have a formal policy in place designed to reduce business flights or intend to do so.

Executives interviewed for the report said that reducing the number of business flights had been motivated by a desire to cut costs, reduce emissions and improve staff productivity by limiting time out of the office.

While the number of business flights may be on a downward trend, spending on green alternatives appears to be climbing, with the vast majority of respondents to the survey revealing that they are making increased use of audio and videoconferencing technologies.

"Even as business picks up after the recession, companies are holding on to the gains they made by cutting flights during the downturn," said David Norman, WWF-UK director of campaigns. "Many have found that cutting business flights can be both good for the planet and good for business."

He added that the government should respond to business calls for new tax breaks for audio and videoconferencing technology and increased investment alternatives to air travel such as an improved rail network and increased broadband penetration.

Matt Key, managing director for enterprise at Cable&Wireless Worldwide, said the communications giant has seen the number of video conferencing units installed by the company's customers increase 34 per cent over the past six months, as growing numbers of companies move away from flying.

"Developments such as the iPad2 will see consumers help fuel the demand for video conferencing, prompting businesses to adopt it more widely," he said. "We've already seen first hand the growing interest companies have for video conferencing and we expect this trend to continue."