2020 U.S.-Booked Air Volume: $10.3 million
Consolidated U.S. TMC: BCD
BTN estimates Cognizant’s business travel volume dropped by
85 percent to $10.3 million in 2020. The business consulting, information
technology and outsourcing service provider has a stake in the digital
transformation, given that it advises firms on virtual collaboration
technologies. However, the firm seems to be taking its own advice, extending
travel restrictions through 2021 and implementing a formal trip justification
process for the first quarter of 2022, according to travel leaders who
participated remotely in a conference panel over the summer. Yet, the company
has also renegotiated its car rental contracts, so some form of business travel
is expected in the future.
Whatever form that takes, the company will be looking at
travel with an eye toward sustainability. Cognizant’s 2020 environmental,
social and governance report cited third-party measurement of the company’s
Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, the latter includes business travel
and employee commuting. The company has publicly stated it is working toward a
net-zero methodology.