Eurostar reported a 17 percent increase in annual business traveler volume for 2006

High-speed rail operator and an 18 percent jump in business travel sales. Overall, annual sales increased 12 percent to £ 518.3 million. The company cited strong punctuality performance, higher levels of en route traveler productivity and lower-emissions operations, as compared with air transport, and estimated that "1,000 business customers a week have now permanently transferred from flying to high-speed rail."