Idark late January, with the omicron variant raging across the United States, it’s perhaps unsurprising that travel isn’t a high priority for most Americans right now. Airports are screening about 30% fewer passengers these days than before the pandemic, according to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) throughput data, as just under four in 10 Americans (39%) say they comfortable flying within the country, according to the latest Morning Consult return to normal follow-up survey.

Much of this hesitation has to do with attitudes towards the pandemic. A large majority of Americans don’t think Covid-19 will ever go away, but rather think it will eventually become an endemic disease like the seasonal flu.

Consider that the omicron variant disrupted travel itineraries for 55% of planned travelers, according to a new travel report from Cardify, an AI-focused market research firm tracking the impact of Covid-19 on consumer spending in the United States Of those who decided to cancel trips, 59% cited the risk of contracting Covid-19 as the most important factor, followed by the risk of transmitting it to someone else (41%).

According to the Cardify report, a slim majority of 3,000 respondents (52%) say they plan to travel by air in the next six months. travel more frequently in 2022 than in 2021.

When separated by vaccination status, the majority of vaccinated (59%) and fully vaccinated (54%) respondents say they plan to fly in the next six months, compared to only 39% of unvaccinated people. . The reverse is also true: 41% of unvaccinated people say they do not plan to travel by air this year, while only about a quarter of those fully vaccinated (25%) or boosted (24%) will remain grounded in 2022.

When asked what factors would further enhance their intention to fly, the top choice was some form of vaccination requirement (30%). When asked if an airline’s hypothetical vaccine mandate would influence their travel decision, 45% of respondents said they would only choose an airline with such a mandate while 34% of respondents said it would make no difference to their decision. Given the same hypothetical premise, about one in five (22%) said they would choose an airline without a vaccination mandate.

Support for Covid-related travel restrictions has been the majority position throughout the pandemic. In August 2021, nearly six in 10 Americans (57%) supported requiring a vaccine to fly, according to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

In one Harris Poll Covid-19 tracking survey conducted in November 2021, two-thirds of respondents (66%) said airline passengers should provide proof of vaccination before flying to the United States. This survey found strong majority support across all genders, age groups and income levels, though it skews most among women (69%), millennials (69%) and those earning more than $100,000 per year (71%).

That same month, three dozen lawmakers asked President Joe Biden to add a vaccination requirement for domestic flights, to align with the requirement in place for international travelers entering the United States. “This is a necessary and long overdue step to ensure that all Americans feel safe and confident when traveling and to reduce the risk of another devastating winter surge,” the letter sent by 36 states. Democratic members of Congress.

Shortly after, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg threw cold water on such a mandate during an interview on NBC.Meet the press.” When asked why there was no vaccination mandate for passengers traveling within the United States, Buttigieg said “other strategies were very effective,” including mask requirements. and vaccination mandates for travel industry workers, which “creates a very safe travel environment for Americans.”