According to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), deep frustration among air travelers caused them to avoid an estimated 41 million trips over the past 12 months at a cost of more than $26 billion to the U.S. economy.
The study, conducted by the polling firms of Peter D. Hart Research Associates and The Winston Group, demonstrated that air travelers express little optimism for positive change, with nearly 50 percent saying that the air travel system is not likely to improve in the near future.
Roger Dow, President and CEO of TIA, said "... more than 100,000 travelers each day are voting with their wallets by choosing to avoid trips."
Dow noted that the 41 million avoided trips during the last 12 months rippled outward across the entire travel community:
Additional findings of the study:
Travelers tend to appreciate the convenience and safety of air travel, but at least as many passengers say air travel is frustrating
Attitudes About Traveling By Air and Airport Experience | |||
Attitude | All Travelers | 3+ Trips/Year | 5+ Trips/Year |
Frustrating | 40% | 48% | 52% |
Convenient | 40 | 37 | 32 |
Safe | 32 | 29 | 30 |
Efficient | 18 | 15 | 15 |
Unreliable | 16 | 21 | 26 |
Relaxing | 15 | 13 | 14 |
Infuriating | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Broken | 5 | 6 | 10 |
Source: Peter D. Hart Research & The Winston Group, May 2008 |
The statistical margin of sampling error is ± 3.2 percentage points
Allan Rivlin, a partner at Peter D. Hart Research Associates, said "...Inefficient security screening and flight cancellations and delays are air travelers' top frustrations."
For additional information about the study, please visit TIA here.