Key Travel says that the escalating cost of travel will affect UK universities particularly harshly.

The comments from the travel management company come in response to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announcement last month that 12.6% will be cut from the university budget in 2011/12.

Steve Summers, chief executive of Key Travel, said, “While the Chancellor’s decision not to increase Air Passenger Duty will be a temporary reprieve, UK travellers will be facing increasing prices as oil prices remain high. Universities will be particularly hard-hit as their incomes fall in the coming academic year.

“Universities are global institutions and travel is essential to their operations. Whether this is allowing academics to attend international meetings, sending teams on study visits or developing links with business and international universities, travel is at the heart of their work. “

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