The September survey found 67% of respondents want most country borders opened now, up 12 percentage-points from IATA's June 2021 survey. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said their quality of life is suffering as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
A similar number (73%) said they found it challenging to understand what rules applied for a trip, and 73% complained that the COVID-19 paperwork was challenging.
"People are increasingly frustrated with the COVID-19 travel restrictions and even more have seen their quality of life suffer as a result. 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 travelling normally," said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
"People also tell us that they are confident to travel. But what those who have travelled are telling us is that the rules are too complex and the paperwork too onerous. To secure the recovery governments need to simplify processes, restore the freedom to travel and adopt digital solutions to issue and manage travel health credentials."
The IATA study found the biggest deterrent to air travel continues to be quarantine measures. 84% said they will not travel if there is a chance of quarantine at their destination. Nearly three-quarters support the removal of a quarantine requirement if a person has tested negative (73%) or been vaccinated (71%).
With the reality that only about 46% of the world's population has had a first COVID vaccination dose, two-thirds of respondents said they believe it is morally wrong to restrict travel only to the vaccinated. Over 80% said testing prior to air travel should be an alternative for people without access to vaccination.
Fully 85% are willing to be tested if required in the travel process, but 75% called the cost of testing is a significant barrier to travel.
"There is a message here for governments. People are willing to be tested to travel. But they don't like the cost or the inconvenience," said Walsh. The veteran airline executive says both can be addressed by governments.
"The reliability of rapid antigen tests is recognized by the (WHO). Broader acceptance of antigen testing by governments would reduce inconvenience and cost -- costs that the WHO's International Health Regulations stipulate should be borne by governments."
While a rapid antigen test will get travellers into the U.S., Canada requires the more expensive PCR test, which can detect the virus earlier by directly screening for the presence of viral RNA.
Among those who have traveled since June 2020, 86% said they felt safe on board the flight owing to the COVID-19 measures and even more (88%) said airline personnel are doing a good job in enforcing COVID-19 rules. There is also strong support for wearing masks, with 87% of respondents agreeing that doing so will prevent the spread of COVID-19.
