Eurocard for corporates and AirPlus will operate under the name AirPlus going forward. However, all services, including travel accounts and other travel-related products, will remain the same.
“We’re the same company, only bigger,” says Lovisa Pharmanson, Key Account Manager at AirPlus. “With the presence AirPlus has established in Central and Southern Europe, combined with the strong position Eurocard has in the Nordics, we now have a powerful offering for business travellers, spanning a larger geographical area.”
She continues, “We want to build long-term relationships with our customers and partners, including by growing and broadening our offering. We’re now able to respond to requests and needs much more efficiently, particularly considering the changes taking place in the industry.”
Above all, Lovisa Pharmanson sees two clear trends.
Companies want to travel economically and efficiently
“Cost control continues to be a key priority for companies, which are looking for affordable ways to travel without compromising the safety of their employees,” she says.
“This may also increase demand for what are known as “linked trips”, with multiple meetings and various stops scheduled during the same business trip to get the most out of the investment. This in turn requires digital payment solutions that work seamlessly regardless of the customer’s location and provide transaction data for a better overview of costs.”
New players challenging traditional business travel companies
“For some time now, we’ve been seeing a whole new type of company offering business travel,” says Lovisa.
“These companies, both large and small, are often technology companies with no previous experience in the travel sector. I believe this will be a trend that will persist and perhaps even intensify in the future. It increases competition, which is good for the end consumer, but at the same time it remains to be seen whether these new players will, over time, succeed in delivering the level of service that customers are used to from the traditional companies.
