Eurostar has posted strong sales growth in the first quarter of 2014, due to a surge in business travel bookings.
The high-speed passenger rail service between Europe and the UK reported year-on-year sales revenues of £227 million, which is an increase of 7 per cent from the first quarter of 2013.
Eurostar’s quarterly sales figures also showed passenger numbers increased by 3 per cent, a rise of 2.3 million compared to Q1 2013.
Business premier class volumes increased 6% for first quarter of 2014Eurostar said one of the main reasons for this period of growth is down to sales of seats in business class, with premium passenger volumes up 6 per cent on last year.
“The improvement we have seen in the corporate travel market in recent months underpins the strong performance reported today,” said Eurostar’s CEO Nicolas Petrovic.
Eurostar's year-on-year sales grew by 7% compared to same period in 2013The rail company said this trend, first reported in the second half of 2013 and related largely to the UK corporate travel market, has now begun to take hold in Eurostar’s other core markets.
“This positive corporate sentiment has contributed to Eurostar’s strong performance and demonstrates the resilience of those businesses with a foothold on both sides of the English Channel,” Eurostar said in a statement.
Petrovic added: “The first quarter has set us on course for continued growth throughout the year.”