Factors that predict passengers willingness to fly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Tracy L Lamb; Scott R Winter; Stephen Rice; Keith J Ruskin; Austin Vaughn

doi:10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101897

Factors that predict passengers willingness to fly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

J Air Transp Manag. 2020 Oct:89:101897. doi: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2020.101897. Epub 2020 Aug 18.

Authors

Tracy L Lamb¹, Scott R Winter¹, Stephen Rice¹, Keith J Ruskin², Austin Vaughn¹

Affiliations

¹ Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 1 Aerospace Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL, 32114, USA.
² University of Chicago, 5801 South Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.

Abstract

Background: Prior research has examined consumer willingness to fly in a variety of situations, including during disease outbreaks. However, to date, no study that we know of has identified what type of person is willing to fly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Six hundred and thirty-two participants from the United States were asked to complete a survey designed to capture demographics, personality measures, emotional states and travel purposes. The data were collected in two stages in order to both develop a descriptive regression equation and a predictive model.

Results: Regression equations were created for both business and pleasure travel, and the following predictors were significant for both scenarios: perceived threat from COVID-19, agreeableness, affect, and fear. These models accounted for 66-67% of the variance in willingness to fly.

Conclusion: Airlines and governments could use these findings to help control the message to potential passengers on actions being taken to provide a safe flying experience, such as mask wearing policies and aircraft disinfectant procedures.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic; Passenger perceptions; Willingness to fly.