Flying from a nearby airport is passengers’ main priority when choosing a flight, according to new research from the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
Its Global Passenger Survey found that 75% of respondents would rate the location of the airport as more important than ticket price (39%).
Travellers also preferred to have booking options and services available in one single place, the research found.
However, only 18% of passengers said that they offset their carbon emissions, with the main reason for not doing so was not being aware of the option (36%).
Nick Careen, Iata’s senior vice-president for operations, safety and security, said: “Travel during Covid-19 was complex, cumbersome and time-consuming due to government-imposed travel requirements.
“Post-pandemic, passengers want improved convenience throughout their trip. Digitalisation and use of biometrics to speed up the travel journey is the key.”
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Muhammad Albakri, Iata’s senior vice-president for financial settlement and distribution services, added: “Today’s travellers expect the same online experience as they get from major retailers like Amazon.
“Airline retailing is driving the response to these needs. It enables airlines to present their full offer to travellers. And that puts the passenger in control of their travel experience with the ability to choose the travel options that they want with convenient payment options.”
More than a third (37%) of travellers said they have been discouraged from travelling to a particular destination because of the immigration requirements.
Where visas are required, 66% of travellers want to obtain a visa online before travel, 20% prefer to go to the consulate or embassy and 14% at the airport.
Careen commented: “Countries with complex visa procedures are losing the economic benefits that these travellers bring.
“Where countries have removed visa requirements, tourism and travel economies have thrived.”
Passengers are interested in more options for baggage handling, the survey found, with 67% saying they would be interested in home pick-up and delivery and 73% in remote check-in options.
Three-quarters (75%) of respondents said they want to use biometric data instead of passports and boarding passes.
“Passengers clearly see technology as key to improving the convenience of airport processes,” said Careen.
“They want to arrive at the airport ready-to-fly, get through the airport at both ends of their journey more quickly using biometrics and know where their baggage is at all times.”
Iata said its One ID initiative is “ready to power” airport processes with biometrics.
The Global Passenger Survey results are based on more than 10,000 responses from 222 countries.