AirPlus International reported that second-quarter air volume dropped by about 1 percent year over year in Europe,

but grew more than 7 percent apiece in the United States and China, as measured in each region's currency. Transactions dropped 5 percent in Europe and increased more than 2 percent in the United States and less than 2 percent in China. The average ticket price increased nearly 5 percent in each of the three regions. "The second-quarter figures show a global slowdown in business travel activity, both in terms of quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year," according to AirPlus chairman and managing director Patrick Diemer. "European companies have become more restrained in their travel behavior as the ongoing debt crisis continues to drive uncertainty in the market."