International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the 2023 Global Passenger Survey (GPS) results, revealing insights into passengers’ travel preferences, with speed and convenience dominating the spotlight.
According to the survey, travellers want to streamline their journey from booking to arrival at their destination. Speed and convenience are the priority, with many passengers willing to embrace technology to make their travel experience easier, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Based on the survey results, when choosing their departure point, passengers prioritise proximity to their home airport (71 per cent) over ticket prices (31 per cent). This marks a shift from previous years, where cost often took precedence.
Continuing this trend, another important aspect of passenger choices is that 52 per cent of passengers prefer booking directly with airlines, underscoring the need for simplified booking and complete fare transparency.
Regarding payment preferences, passengers seek the flexibility to choose a payment method that suits their convenience the best.
Based on the survey results, passengers have made it clear that whether it’s the widespread use of credit and debit cards (73 per cent), the usage of digital wallets, or direct bank transfers, they expect their chosen payment method to be readily available and straightforward.
Concerning the airport processes, travellers are eager for streamlined processes and want to avoid waiting times. They express a strong interest in using biometric data to speed up the procedures, especially for immigration.
Passengers have clarified that they want to spend less time booking and move through the airport faster. And they are increasingly willing to use biometric data to complete more pre-departure tasks at airports to achieve this.
They expect the fastest airport experience ever, with 74 per cent hoping to go from the curb to the boarding gate in 30 minutes or less when travelling with just a carry-on bag.
Notably, confidence in biometric identification is on the rise, with 75 per cent of passengers preferring biometric data over traditional passports and boarding passes. Furthermore, 46 per cent have already used biometrics at the airport, with a reported satisfaction rate of 85 per cent.
Lastly, the survey underscores the importance of simplifying visa requirements and promoting a digital online visa process. Those results demonstrate that complex visa requirements discourage 36 per cent of travellers from visiting specific destinations.
Last year, IATA also unveiled the results of its 2022 Global Passenger Survey, underscoring passengers’ ongoing emphasis on convenience as a top priority, especially after the post-pandemic travels. This need continues to resonate in this year’s survey as well.