Travellers increasingly frustrated with restrictions
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that air travellers are increasingly frustrated with the Covid-19 travel restrictions
A survey commissioned by IATA of 4,700 respondents in 11 markets in September demonstrated confidence that the risks of Covid-19 can be effectively managed and that the freedom to travel should be restored:
- 67 per cent of respondents felt that most country borders should be opened now, up 12 percentage points from the June 2021 survey
- 64 per cent of respondents felt that border closures are unnecessary and have not been effective in containing the virus (up 11 percentage points from June 2021)
- 73 per cent responded that their quality of life is suffering as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions (up six percentage points from June 2021)
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, commented: “People are increasingly frustrated with the Covid-19 travel restrictions and even more have seen their quality of life suffer as a result. They don’t see the necessity of travel restrictions to control the virus. The message they are sending to governments is: Covid-19 is not going to disappear, so we must establish a way to manage its risks while living and traveling normally.”
The biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures. Eighty-four per cent of respondents indicated that they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at their destination. A growing proportion of respondents support the removal of quarantine if:
- A person has tested negative for Covid-19 (73 per cent in September compared to 67 per cent in June)
- A person has been vaccinated (71 per cent in September compared to 68 per cent in June).
With the vaccination rates globally increasing, 80 per cent of respondents agree that vaccinated people should be able to travel freely by air. However, there were strong views against making vaccination a condition for air travel. About two-thirds felt it is morally wrong to restrict travel only to those who have been vaccinated. Over 80 per cent of respondents believe that testing before air travel should be an alternative for people without access to vaccination.