US travellers avoided an estimated 41 million flights during the past 12 months to reduce the hassles of air journeys, according to a survey commissioned by the Travel Industry Association (TIA).
The poll of more than 1,000 air travellers (adults who had taken at least one return trip in that period) found that one third are dissatisfied with the whole process of flying, and that figure rose to nearly half (48%) for those taking more than five trips a year.
They are most irritated with delays, cancellations and what they see as an inefficient security screening system at airports.
”The air travel crisis has hit a tipping point ” more than 100,000 travellers each day are voting with their wallets by choosing to avoid trips,” said TIA president and CEO Roger Dow. ”This landmark research should be a wake up call to America”s policy leaders that the time for meaningful air system reform is now.”
Dow noted that the 41m avoided trips affected the entire travel community, costing airlines more than $9bn in revenue, hotels nearly $6bn and restaurants more than $3bn. In addition, federal, state and local governments lost more than $4bn in tax revenue because of reduced traveller spending.
”Many travellers believe their time is not respected and it is leading them to avoid a significant number of trips," said a partner at Peter D. Hart Research Associates which conducted the survey.
A majority of people thought safety was improving, but more than 60% believed air travel is getting more frustrating.
”With rising fuel prices already weighing heavily on American pocketbooks, we need to find ways to encourage Americans to continue their business and leisure travel. Unfortunately, just the opposite appears to be happening.” said Dow.
TIA will host an emergency summit of travel leaders on 17 June 17 in Washington DC to discuss next steps for moving this issue forward with policymakers. The Association has called on each of the major presidential candidates to commit to addressing this issue for the millions of American air travellers who ”face the trials of the antiquated air traffic system on a daily basis” and to issue a plan to begin fixing it during their first term in office.
Air Transport Association (ATA) of America issued an immediate response to the study.
”Welcome to the picnic - the TIA survey reveals what ATA has been saying for years, that we have an aging air traffic control system that is in desperate need of replacement,” said ATA president and CEO James C. May. ”We appreciate TIA”s involvement in finding ways to improve the passenger travel experience and we look forward to working with them on the various initiatives that we already have put before Congress, FAA and others.
”Just six months ago, TIA proposed raising revenue through a tax on passengers, an unsuitable solution to an already overtaxed industry. We hope that we can work cooperatively with TIA to reduce, not raise, the cost of travel.”