Cash Distributions - include all of your fixed and controllable expenses.

Corporate travel is an especially inviting target for the budgetary knives, because it is widely said to be a corporation's second-largest controllable expense, after salaries.

But the recent recession prodded many companies to scrutinize their travel budgets, typically the third-largest controllable expense after salaries and data processing.

A system like Visa's can save a company a few percentage points of its annual travel and entertainment budget, which is typically the second-largest controllable expense behind payroll.

Because labor is typically their largest controllable expense, many airlines are seeking concessions in wages, work rules or benefits.

Corporate America spends about $145 billion annually on travel-related expenses, which are typically a company's third-largest controllable expense, the two companies said in a statement.

For most companies "travel & entertainment" (T&E) costs represent the second highest controllable annual expense, exceeded only by salary & benefits.

As for 1991, he said that the company would have to "learn to live on more reduced means" and that controllable expenses would be flat.

But because labor is management's largest controllable expense and the industry upheaval is far from over, many employees will continue to face uncertainty.

Travel - typically a company's second-largest controllable expense after salaries - has always been the first place to cut when a company slows down.