By J Nastranis
UNITED NATIONS (IDN) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres' proposal that high-ranking officials fly business class rather than first class – to help rein in one of the most expensive aspects of the Organization's budget – is finding support in the Administrative and Budgetary Committee, also known as the Fifth Committee.
Next to staff costs, travel accounts for one of the largest budget components of the United Nations system, making it one of the largest consumers of travel services among international organizations. From 2012 to 2015, air travel and related expenses totalled $4.01 billion, according to the Joint Inspection Unit report.