Rising jet fuel prices, airline route reductions and higher airfares are fuelling concern among international travellers, but destination safety remains the most important factor influencing travel decisions, according to the results of a new Global Rescue SNAP Survey.
Nearly seven in 10 travellers (69.79%) reported they are either very concerned or somewhat concerned that global airline travel will become less reliable or less affordable as jet fuel prices rise and European airlines reduce flight schedules. Only 6.72% said they are less or much less concerned, while 22.30% reported no change in their level of concern.
The findings come amid reports of soaring jet fuel costs, widespread airline schedule reductions and warnings from aviation industry leaders that airfare increases are likely to continue if fuel market instability persists.
Despite growing concern over airline costs and reliability, destination safety remains the primary driver of international travel decisions.
More than half of travellers (55.31%) said destination safety is still more important to their travel plans than airline ticket costs or route reductions. However, more than one-quarter (26.81%) said both destination safety and airline costs are significant concerns, highlighting the increasingly complex risk calculations travellers are making. An additional 12.08% said airline ticket costs and route reductions are now a bigger deterrent to international travel than destination safety concerns.
“International travellers are facing a convergence of challenges that extends well beyond traditional safety concerns,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Travellers are increasingly evaluating affordability, airline reliability, operational disruptions and destination safety simultaneously. The travel decision-making process has become far more complex than it was just a few years ago.”
The survey also found that, despite record-breaking heatwaves affecting parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, most travellers are not changing their international travel plans. More than 71% of respondents said they have not modified their international travel because of extreme heatwaves. Only 4% reported modifying or cancelling travel due to extreme heat.
“Travellers appear willing to adapt to environmental challenges rather than abandon travel altogether,” Richards said. “The data suggests experienced travelers continue to prioritize travel while adjusting expectations and managing risks as conditions evolve.”
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