Poll: Fewer than half willing to fly shortly after coronavirus restrictions lifted

More than half of those polled by an industry research group say that they will continue to avoid air travel even after coronavirus-related restrictions are relaxed.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that research from the International Air Transport Association points to just 45 percent of travelers willing to return to airports within two months of restrictions lifting.

“If anything, consumers have actually got rather more cautious and we have a majority saying now that they would wait more than six months before traveling,” said IATA chief economist Brian Pearce, according to Bloomberg. “The survey is telling us that passengers are rather cautious.”

The percentage of those willing to fly again has dropped since April, when coronavirus infections reached a peak, and may indicate fears of the virus’s resurgence as states around the U.S. have begun relaxing restrictions on public gatherings and business operations.

IATA research also showed that new flight bookings are down more than 80 percent from last year, with reservations also being made far closer to flight dates than usual. Demand for longer flights reportedly remains low.

The IATA’s research comes just weeks after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that U.S. domestic air travel had nearly doubled since early May.

“The airline stocks went through the roof today and others did too. The whole market went through the roof,” President Trump said at a White House event while celebrating the news. “People are traveling and you know what? They’re traveling within the United States.”