Euro Gloom for Airlines

TNS has started its European polls for TIME and CNN (as reported on DRNO on 10th June) with a survey on views of air travel, and found more than one-third of people in Britain, France and Germany 'less likely to travel by air' than they were 12 months ago. Britons and Germans were most likely to cite terrorism, whereas the French cite 'economic factors' as the main reason.

The percentage 'less likely to travel by aeroplane now' was highest in France - 46% - and lowest in Britain (only 16%). In Britain and Germany, 'terrorism' was given as the primary reason for avoiding air travel, by 36 per cent and 33 per cent of respondents respectively, while in France, four out of ten people (40 per cent) said 'economic factors' were the main reason for not flying. Younger Britons were most likely to avoid flying and said that terrorism was the primary reason for this.

Sue Homeyard, Omnibus Director at TNS, commented: 'The findings show that, in Western Europe, the threat of terrorism and the flat economic situation have had longer-lasting repercussions on air travel than previously anticipated.

'For airlines and holiday operators targeting consumers in Britain and Germany, their primary goal will be to allay fears of air travel and promote the security measures which have been implemented to prevent terrorist attacks. In contrast, findings from France suggest that incentivising consumers by offering holiday reductions or interest-free payment schemes may be the best way to increase holiday and airline sales'.

The TNS partnership with TIME and CNN was reported on DRNO on 10th June - www.mrweb.com/drno/news2409.htm

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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