Managers and CEOs are increasingly opting to drive to work instead of using public transport
The majority of UK business leaders believe that Britain’s lack of investment in public transport is stifling UK business.
Chairmen, chief executives and managing directors were invited to participate in a study, by PrivateFly.com and online survey company Clarity, which found that those surveyed felt that the lack of investment had a bigger impact on public transport than anything else during the last 10 years.
Almost a third (28 percent) said that if train fares continue to rise at their current rate they will cease to use trains for business travel.
Adam Twidell, chief executive officer of PrivateFly.com, said: “The UK’s rail companies should take note of this as business travel accounts for a large portion of their income. And, as the government has announced that from 2012 rail fares may rise by three percent above inflation many business executives will be choosing alternative transport methods.”
The research also examined the time lost on travel, finding that business leaders waste almost a full working week per month travelling – a total of 34 hours and four minutes, broken down as follows:
- Train: six hours, 27 minutes
- Air: 11 hours, 48 minutes
- Car: 15 hours, 49 minutes
Twidell said: “It seems the UK’s business leaders are steering away from public transport for their daily commute. But are they consciously avoiding trains and buses or is it simply because the car offers greater convenience and comfort? And, I wonder how London’s transport network will fare during the London 2012 Olympics, when we are going to see a real influx of both business executives and tourists.
“For top business people, efficiency in travel is key, including the ability to work while on the move. It’s clear that enormous amounts of highly-paid working hours are wasted by unproductive business transport. Private aviation offers a flexible - and often cost effective – option for business travel, particularly where there are multi-leg journeys or indirect routes involved.”