The U.S.travel market is holding strong for now despite skyrocketing costs, flight cancellations and growing recession concerns, according to OAG’s latest survey.
The report, conducted in April and May of 2022 via OAGs flight tracking app, FlightView, offers timely insights on over 1,400 North American travellers who are eager to fly again following two years of COVID lockdowns, protocols and restrictions. After lockdowns and restrictions, travellers just want to take their long-awaited holiday, even if it means higher fares, crowded airports and service inconveniences due to a shortage of staff Twenty-seven percent more people are travelling this summer compared to 2021.
Of those travelling, 63 are booking international flights, and nearly 60 are planning to visit a destination they haven’t visited before. Over 50 are booking 2-6 months in advance and 11 are booking with lead times of 6 months or more. Despite rising inflation, respondents said 50 and 100 ticket price increases arent likely to discourage them from booking, but they are extremely less likely to book with 200 and 300 increases 45 and 68 respectively.
Once at the airport, flight delays, cancellations and customer service issues rank among the biggest areas of impact for consumers 52% and 19 respectively.
U.S.business travel is also surging. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they have already travelled for business in 2022, up 51% from 2021. Ninety percent report that their company plans to travel in the next 12 months, while 50% say their travel plans will return to pre-pandemic levels or above in the next year.
Written by: Matthew Thomas
