New research reveals the majority of travellers are now ready to consider booking domestic and international trips, but only if airlines, airports, hotels and car rental companies collectively implement 10 different safety measures throughout their journey, including fully flexible or refundable flights.
The independent research from technology company Travelport is based on a survey of 5000 travellers across the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia and New Zealand.
The study found that in all parts of the travel journey, it is deemed critical to have social distancing rules, mandatory use of face masks, and ready access to sanitising gel or wipes, face masks and gloves.
The study also revealed, however, that additional measures still need to be implemented by airlines, airports, hotels and car rental companies to fully restore consumer confidence.
The 10 measures travellers want to see in place before they commit to returning to travel are:
- enhanced cleaning and/or disinfection
- access to sanitising gel/wipes, masks and gloves
- social distancing
- temperature checks
- mandatory wearing of masks
- fully flexible or refundable tickets
- improved air filtration
- contactless services
- plexi-glass at check in
- managed boarding by row.
The research confirms domestic travel is likely to lead the recovery at least until there is certainty around borders remaining open and people becoming more confident in international travel.
The data shows domestic travel is growing at a rate of 50 per cent per month.
Full international travel is expected to be the last to return, as so much relies on the development of the pandemic – which is still in flux.
Airlines are seeing and expecting more travel ‘bubbles’, ‘bridges’ and ‘corridors’ to appear, where countries group together to allow people to travel with looser entry and exit requirements, based on the risk level.
On a country level, the study revealed demand for almost every safety measure is highest in India. Demand in New Zealand, while still high, tended to be the lowest across the five countries assessed.
When it came to age groups, demand for robust safety measures was again high across all categories, however, it was highest among baby boomers and lowest among millennials.
What will it take for you to reconsider travelling again? Are you already considering domestic travel? Will you be ready to go as soon as international borders reopen?
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