GBTA Forecast: Business Travel Won't Get Cheaper Before the End of 2026, with Relief Coming Only in 2027

GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) and travel management company ALTOUR have published their business travel cost forecast for 2027. The key takeaway: prices will keep rising through the end of 2026, after which growth will slow — but there will be no return to previous levels.

The 2026 numbers. The average global airfare will rise by 4.7% to 756 dollars. Economy class is getting more expensive faster — up 8.7% to 536 dollars — while premium cabins (premium economy, business, first) will add 9.5% to average 4,488 dollars. Hotel increases will be more moderate: the average nightly rate will grow by 3.7% to 168 dollars. Business events — up 3%, to 263 dollars per attendee per day.

Why. The two main drivers are fuel and labor costs. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early 2026 caused the largest oil supply disruption in history and a sharp spike in jet fuel prices. Fuel has since retreated from its peaks, but wages at airlines, hotels, and ground services continue to rise under multi-year agreements — and will not come down quickly.

2027: relief, but no rollback. Airfare growth will slow to 1.5%, and hotels will add 1.8%. The forecast’s authors emphasize that aircraft shortages caused by delivery delays, sustainable fuel requirements, and staffing shortages have become long-term factors. Budgeting “like in 2025” is no longer an option.

What this means for Kazakhstan. Our companies purchase travel in two price zones at once, and the gap between them is widening. Europe and the Middle East (the EMEA region in the forecast’s terminology) remain the most stable destination — hotels there will add just 0.6%. The Asia-Pacific region, including China, is getting noticeably more expensive — up 5% for hotels. Practical takeaways: budget for moderate growth in 2027, not a price freeze; lock in corporate hotel rates in negotiations this autumn, before the market rewrites its price lists; and book premium flights as far in advance as possible — they are rising in price fastest of all.

How do you plan your 2027 travel budget — based on past actuals or on forecasts? Share in the comments.