Flight prices are expected to rise in the UK next year as the economy continues to improve, according to a study by Carlson Wagonlit Travel and the GBTA. Overall business travel spending in the UK is set to rise by 5.1% in 2015, compared to an estimated rise of 4.4% during this year, according to the 2015 Global Travel Price Outlook. Airfares are set to rise by 1% in the UK next year due to “price competition” from no-frills airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair. This increase is significantly lower than the forecast global rise in airfares of 2.2% next year to an average ticket price of £482. Better news for buyers is that ground transport costs in the UK are projected to fall slightly by 0.5% next year. CWT and GBTA are forecasting an overall 8.6% global increase in spending in 2015 – up from an estimated rise of 6.9% this year – fuelled by higher demand from emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil, and improved economic growth in developed countries. This higher demand is expected to outstrip planned increases in the supply of travel services which will help push up prices further. (source: buyingbusinesstravel.com)