The Business Travel Coalition has released its annual U.S. Business Travel Survey. Major findings include that: 1) business travel will decline further in 2002; 2) many corporate cutbacks in travel are permanent; 3) business airfare levels are perceived as too high; 4) substitutes to the commercial airline product have become mainstream; and 5) support is growing for a "Trusted Traveler" program as an antidote to airport security hassles. The 2002 U.S. Business Travel Survey was sponsored by Unisys Corp. and conducted in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE). Some 184 corporations representing $2.9 billion in annual, domestic U.S. air transportation purchases participated in the survey. "It is imperative that as an industry we strive toward implementation of a Trusted/Registered Traveler program to improve security, traveler convenience and airline economics," said Olivier Houri, vice president and general manager, Unisys Global Transportation. "Many business travelers are opting to use their cars in short-haul city-pair markets because of the time and hassle factors associated with airport security. Since business travel levels are declining, we at Unisys are working with our airline and airport customers to bring these levels back up through the development of technology-based loyalty and identification systems." "The airline industry financial crisis is far graver than in the early 1990s. Strategies for inducing significant business traveler demand at profitable yields are few. The industry must find a way to reform the airfare structure for business travel," said Kevin P. Mitchell, publisher, BTCTravelogue.com. About the Business Travel Coalition The mission of Business Travel Coalition, located in Radnor, Pa., is to advocate public policy and supplier issues of concern to customers of the business travel industry. Learn more about BTC at www.btctravelogue.com. About the Association of Corporate Travel Executives Founded in 1988, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is a member-driven organization wholly dedicated to the science of business travel management with an international constituency. ACTE membership totals more than 2,400, including business travel executives in Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the United States. The organization is headquartered in Alexandria, Va., with regional offices located in Brussels and Singapore. ACTE's Web site is www.acte.org.