A decline in business trips during the second quarter of 2012 was counterweighed by an increase in air price tickets, according to new figures that found a five percent year-on-year growth in air ticket prices in China and the US.

The latest AirPlus International report found that the five percent rise in ticket prices helped set off the saw two percent drop in transaction growth in China during the second quarter this year compared to the last, as well as the two percent decline in air volume out of the US.

Europe’s air volume also declined during the second quarter this year compared to the same period last year by up to one percent, according to the report, while average ticket prices rose by nearly five percent.

AirPlus managing director Patrick Diemer said business travel is expected to pick up over 2012, despite the decline over April, May and June.

“The second quarter figures show a global slowdown in business travel activity, both in terms of quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year.

“European companies have become more restrained in their travel behavior as the ongoing debt crisis continues to drive uncertainty in the marke.”

“At AirPlus, we are confident that 2012 will continue to be a strong year, as we are well positioned in markets like the United States, where we have recently partnered with J.P. Morgan, and China, where we were the first to market with a centrally billed lodge product.”