U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #307: February 16, 2004
Business Travel: By Land or by Air?
For business trips of 50 miles or more, the personal vehicle is the dominant means of transportation, accounting for 81% of all trips in 2001. Air travel accounts for about 16% of all business trips, leaving about 3% for other modes. The decision to take a personal vehicle or fly to a destination changes with the distance of the trip. If a destination is between 250–499 miles away, two-thirds of trips are taken with a personal vehicle (67%). On the other hand, if the destination is 500–749 miles away, almost two-thirds of trips are taken by air (64%).
Long-Distance Business Trips by Miles Traveled One-Way, 2001 
Note: Long-distance trips are defined as trips of 50 miles or greater, one-way. Graph does not reflect "other modes."
Supporting Information
Long-Distance Business Trips by Miles Traveled One-Way
| |
Personal vehicle |
Air travel |
| 50-99 miles |
97% |
0% |
| 100-249 miles |
94% |
3% |
| 250-499 miles |
67% |
31% |
| 500-749 miles |
33% |
64% |
| 750-999 miles |
15% |
85% |
| 1,000-1,499 miles |
14% |
85% |
| 1,500 miles |
7% |
90% |
|
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, America on the Go..., Findings from the National Household Travel Survey, "U.S. Business Travel," October 2003. |
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