More than half of Americans won’t consider international travel as countries reopen

Airlines say travellers are excited to return to Europe and the United Kingdom as plans to reopen borders progress, pointing to a spike in ticket shopping and bookings.

United Airlines saw a 19% increase in flight searches to Europe the day the news broke that trips to Europe might be a possibility for vaccinated Americans this summer. And “demand is through the roof” for the airline’s new flights to Greece, Croatia and Iceland, CEO Scott Kirby said last week.

Those travellers appear to be in the minority.

More than half of American adults – 55% – aren’t ready to consider international travel, according to a new Harris Poll survey. And more than half of those respondents (58%) say they aren’t sure if or when they will be ready.

This despite a surge in optimism about the pandemic recovery and an overall eagerness to board aeroplanes again, according to John Gerzema, CEO of The Harris Poll.

Gerzema said 67% of Americans say the worst of the pandemic is behind us, compared with just 33% in early January. And 50% of Americans say they miss travelling on aeroplanes, the highest figure in a year, he said.