Travelers Now Prioritize Aircraft Safety Over Price

As travelers continue to navigate the complexities of air travel, a new factor has emerged as a significant consideration: the type of aircraft they will be flying on. Traditionally, airfare, departure times, and flight duration have been the primary concerns for those booking flights. However, a recent survey by digital analytics company Quantum Metric indicates that aircraft type is becoming an increasingly important criterion for many travelers.

According to the survey conducted in June, one in five travelers is now researching the specific aircraft before booking a flight. Additionally, 22% of respondents mentioned that they are planning to limit their air travel for the remainder of the year. Overall, 55% of travelers reported changing their booking habits due to recent news surrounding aircraft and airlines.

The survey does not explicitly mention Boeing, but it’s clear that the company’s recent challenges have captured widespread attention. Since a door panel blew off an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5, 2024, media coverage has focused heavily on Boeing, influencing public perception and behavior. Danielle Harvey, Global Vice President and Head of Travel and Hospitality Strategy at Quantum Metric, highlighted that travelers are increasingly conducting research to understand and potentially avoid Boeing aircraft.

Despite the rising concerns, some industry experts question the logic behind avoiding certain aircraft. Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst and founder of Sobie Aviation, pointed out that many discount carriers operate Airbus A320s rather than Boeing 737s, particularly in Asia. He emphasized that Boeing’s issues affect all airlines, regardless of their business model.

While fears around air travel may be heightened due to recent headlines, data shows that aviation safety has significantly improved over the years. Arnold Barnett, a professor of statistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and co-author of a research paper on the risks of commercial flights, revealed that the global risk of dying on a commercial flight between 2018 and 2022 was 1 in 13.7 million passenger boardings. This marks a substantial improvement from earlier decades when the risk was much higher.

Barnett attributes this increased safety to several factors, including technological advancements, extensive pilot training, and the rigorous oversight by organizations such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). However, geographical disparities in safety still exist. The MIT study categorized countries into three tiers based on flight safety, with Tier 1 (including the U.S., EU, and several other nations) having the lowest risk and Tier 3 (comprising many other countries) showing a 36 times higher fatality risk compared to Tier 1.

Even with the statistical improvements, the decision to avoid Boeing aircraft isn’t straightforward. The global aircraft manufacturing market is dominated by Boeing and its European competitor, Airbus, making it challenging for travelers to completely avoid Boeing aircraft. Platforms like Kayak and Alternative Airlines now offer filters that allow travelers to choose flights based on the type of aircraft, an option that gained popularity after the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.

For frequent travelers aiming to avoid Boeing aircraft, the challenge is greater, especially for those loyal to specific airlines. Switching airlines to avoid a particular type of aircraft could mean forfeiting accumulated travel status, making the decision less appealing.

Ultimately, while the Alaska Airlines incident and Boeing’s ongoing issues have raised concerns, the overall safety of air travel continues to improve. As Barnett noted, even when things go wrong, the systems in place typically prevent disasters, offering reassurance to the flying public. Nonetheless, the increased focus on aircraft safety is likely to persist as travelers become more informed and cautious in their flight bookings.

Related news: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/safety/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com