Travellers outline demands before they will fly again

The cleanliness of in-cabin air and the ability for passengers to social distance on a plane are two of the top concerns for travellers considering taking a flying in the future.

The majority of travellers are also more concerned about the environment on an aircraft than the environment in airports, according to the findings in a new survey by technology company Honeywell.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents said social distancing on flights was a top priority when travelling, and just over half of those surveyed said air quality was a concern.

Access to enough face masks, hand sanitiser and disinfecting wipes on flights was also a significant concern, with nearly half of those surveyed citing it as a top priority. The survey questioned more than 700 people across North America and Asia.

Everyone surveyed is a regular traveller – either for business or pleasure – and the majority were between the ages of 25 and 44.

Passengers said they would prefer to put their faith in technology when it comes to cleanliness in the air.

More than 60 per cent of respondents said they had more confidence in technology being used for cleanliness in seating areas of the cabin rather than other methods, such as having cleaning materials given directly to passengers or being updated on sanitation methods by cabin crew.

Honeywell’s Aerospace division supplies technology to commercial, defence and space aircraft throughout the world, and the company is working on new solutions.

“This survey demonstrates that passengers want hightech solutions to best validate the entire travel experience as it relates to health and safety,” said Kevin Suits, vice president, user experience, Honeywell Aerospace.

Passengers said they would prefer to put their faith in technology when it comes to cleanliness in the air