More than half of business travelers from North America and the Asia-Pacific region would be comfortable flying domestically now amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new survey, but far fewer business travelers from Europe, the Middle East and Africa would say the same.
About 47 percent of all 2,100 business travelers surveyed Feb. 24-March 30 by Dynata as commissioned by insurance company Chubb indicated they are comfortable flying domestically, but the regional differences are notable. About 55 percent of respondents from the Asia-Pacific region and 54 percent from North America indicated comfort with domestic flying, but only 36 percent of EMEA business travelers agreed. About 31 percent overall would fly internationally.
The Chubb/Dynata survey included only those respondents who are "currently employed with a minimum household income of $50,000, and who travel overnight for business in a typical year."
Meanwhile, three-quarters of all business travelers surveyed would pay more to keep the middle seat open on a flight. The last major U.S. carrier to block middle seats outside premium cabins, Delta Air Lines, is set to end that policy May 1.
Much more regionally consistent was comfort with staying in a hotel, with which 52 percent of overall respondents indicated. About 39 percent each are comfortable eating in restaurants and renting cars, and 30 percent would take a taxi or ride-share service.
Live meetings don't appear to be in the immediate offing, according to the survey: About 12 percent overall would be comfortable attending an event with more than 100 people, although 18 percent of North American respondents would. About 16 percent of North American respondents said they would not feel comfortable with any travel-related activity. Twenty-one percent of EMEA respondents and 29 percent of those from Latin America said the same.