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- The International Air Transport Association released the results of a survey about passenger reaction to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
- About 67% of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now.
- The biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures.
Air travellers are increasingly frustrated with the Covid-19 travel restrictions, a survey commissioned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows.
About 4 700 respondents in 11 markets were surveyed in September. About 67% of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened immediately, up 12 percentage points from the June 2021 survey. About 64% of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus - up 11 percentage points from June 2021.
About 73% responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions - up six percentage points from June 2021.
"People are increasingly frustrated with the Covid-19 travel restrictions and even more have seen their quality of life suffer as a result," Willie Walsh, IATA's director general, said on Tuesday at the closing of the global airline body's hybrid 77th Annual General Meeting in Boston.
The survey found that support grows for testing or vaccination to replace quarantine.
"The biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures. 84% of respondents indicated that they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at their destination," David Rockland, CEO of Rockland Dutton, which conducted the survey, said during a media briefing.
"A growing proportion of respondents support the removal of quarantine if a person has tested negative for Covid-19 or a person has been vaccinated."
About two-thirds of respondents felt it is morally wrong to restrict travel only to those who have been vaccinated. Over 80% of respondents believe that testing before air travel should be an alternative for people without access to vaccination. About 75% of respondents indicated that the cost of testing is a significant barrier to travel.
About 73% of those who have traveled since June 2020 found it challenging to understand what rules applied for a trip and 73% felt the Covid-19 paperwork was challenging to arrange.
"What those who have traveled are telling us is that the rules are too complex and the paperwork too onerous. To secure the recovery governments need to simplify processes, restore the freedom to travel and adopt digital solutions to issue and manage travel health credentials," said Walsh.
