More businessmen from the UAE are using the region’s growing low-cost carrier (LCC) industry for short-haul lights than ever before, according to the results of a recent poll.

Conducted by YouGov Siraj, the survey said that 64 percent of respondents said they were flying for business reasons, compared to 48 percent in 2009.

In addition, around three in five business travellers said that they expected to use LCCs more in 2011. Only one in five said that they were less likely to use budget airlines next year.

“While budgets are likely to increase in the near future, travellers have had enough of cutting back and are turning to LCCs as a way to get more out of the budget they have now,” said Scott Booth, research manager for travel and tourism at YouGov Siraj.

He added: “Most travellers are flying economy regardless of the carrier, and the LCC trends signal a diminished distinction between an economy seat on a legacy carrier and what is essentially the same seat on an LCC."

The LCC industry in the Gulf has grown significantly since Sharjah’s Air Arabia began operations in 2003. Other major carriers in the region include FlyDubai, nasair and Bahrain Air.

The YouGov poll suggested that India was the most popular business destination (with 7 percent of last business trips), with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan close behind.

A total of 299 business and 338 leisure travellers from the UAE responded to the survey during October and November 2010.