A Study on the Perception Change of Passengers on Sustainable Air Transport Following COVID-19 Progress

Abstract

We investigate whether air transport passengers changed their perceptions on the resumption of air transport use as the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have changed. We surveyed 1200 Koreans, and then six months later re-surveyed 840 people among those who participated in the first survey. We built a structural equation model that was configured of five latent variables: COVID-19-related, self-isolation, destination condition, level of preventive measures in the airport/aircraft, and social perception. We performed paired sample t-test, multi-group analysis, and latent mean analysis for two divided groups, based on the survey period. We found that the perception structure on resuming air transportation use over time during the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed, though a significant change has occurred in the responses to the measured and latent variables. In particular, a high variation was found in the awareness of COVID-19-related factors and social perceptions, and we suggest continuous monitoring of the related factors to preemptively respond to the recovery of air transport demand. On the other hand, we propose proactive level setting and the maintaining of sanitary conditions of the destination and preventive measures in the airport/aircraft. We expect that this study will provide effective implications for the recovery of air transport demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passengers' Perceptions of Airport Design during a Pandemic (Study on Passengers at Sultan Hassanudin International Airport–Makassar, Indonesia)

“…The following are examples of posters and passenger information signs: Any intervention on the existing terminal processing layout will likely have a direct impact on queuing areas and processing times. Several considerations should be taken into account to assess the impact of the new social distancing on existing processing facilities using the variances in the static and dynamic models as described below (Song & Choi, 2021).…”

Tourism Sustainability and COVID-19 Pandemic: Is There a Positive Side?

“…To ensure a pre-emptive response and the prompt recuperation of travel demand, there is a need for an approach that can be consistent in the long run [73]. In essence, devising a sustainable strategy of operation is a highly significant question for the development of tourism in the post-pandemic era [9,32] because the pandemic has caused only a short-term halt to the pre-existent scenarios of over-tourism and unsustainable practices [23,24].…”

A study on sustainable air travel behavior under the possible remedy of risk knowledge: A mediating perspective of risk perception during COVID-19

“…COVID-19 is a recent issue of concern for airlines to address and around which to establish policy for the sustainability of air services management. Prior studies have been confined to foreseeing passengers' behavioral changes, risk knowledge, physical and social servicescapes, satisfaction in connection to sustainable airport image, and travel behavior (Conway III et al, 2020;Shah et al, 2020;Song and Choi, 2021). In association with COVID-19, aviation management must take precautions to stimulate and sustain air service as the only option for transportation management under the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger's travel behavior shifted significantly. Aviation management calls for the perceptual positioning of passengers as a remedial tool for sustained travel demand (Song and Choi, 2021). The enduring damage continues to rise in tourism, transportation, catering, entertainment, and retail due to COVID-19.…”