Research in February found the proportion of those expecting to take a trip – 57% – had increased from 49% in September. However, 84% said they would not travel if there was a chance of quarantine in their destination, in line with previous polls.
Iata interviewed 4,700 people in 11 countries who had taken a flight in the past 11 months, including 500 in the UK. In total, 89% of respondents believed governments needed to standardise vaccine and testing certificates and 80% were “encouraged” by Iata’s Travel Pass App, currently being tested, and would use it “as soon as available”.
The poll also found those who said they would wait until the economy stabilises before travelling had fallen from 65% in September to 56% last month.
While 62% of respondents said they were likely to travel less for business after the virus is contained, this was an improvement from the 72% recorded in September 2020.
“People want to get back to travel, but quarantine is the showstopper,” said Iata director general Alexandre de Juniac.
He added: “It is becoming clear that we will need to learn to live and travel in a world that has Covid-19. Given the health, social and economic costs of travel restrictions, airlines should be ready to reconnect the world as soon as governments are able to re-open borders. That’s why a plan with measurable milestones is so critical.”
Iata’s findings follow those of a YouGov survey last month, which found 54% of almost 6,000 British adults in favour of health passports and only 4% against.
