The pandemic took a big hit on the travel industry, especially when it came to airline flight bookings. Airline sales were down significantly, and it’s taken a long time for them to ramp back up. But it seems that there may finally be a light at the end of the tunnel. Airline bookings are on the rise once again, and it seems like they won’t be slowing down anytime soon. This is excellent news not only for the airline industry, but for the travel industry as a whole.
What Are Airline Booking Levels Currently?
According to a report from the Mastercard Economics Institute, airline bookings have been steadily increasing and could continue to grow in the years ahead.
One promising statistic from the study was that business flight bookings in April 2022 surpassed the booking levels from April 2019. This brings a huge sigh of relief as the pandemic significantly hindered business travel.
Another encouraging finding from the report was that airline travel is on the upswing and could continue to stay that way. It was found that if airline bookings continue to trend how they currently are, 1.5 billion more passengers globally will fly in 2022, compared to 2021.
Are Airline Bookings Increasing For Business, Leisure, or Both?
Airline bookings globally are increasing for both leisure and business purposes. Everyone is eager to travel, no matter if it’s for work or play.
Global leisure travel bookings in April 2022 are up 25% from April 2019, and global business flight bookings in April of this year surpassed booking levels from April 2019.
Something that is really encouraging is that these numbers represent global travel, not just domestic travel.
Which International Destinations Are Going to be Popular This Summer?
Summer vacation is coming up, which means that it’s time to start planning your travels. When taking into consideration where to go, you may want to know which international destinations are going to be popular. Knowing this information can help you decide which spot will best fit your needs.
According to Forbes, some of the most popular international summer vacation destinations for 2022 include:
- United States
- Italy
- France
- Canada
- Ireland
- Switzerland
- Spain
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
- Greece
What Are the Current Restrictions For Flying on an Airplane?
Though the federal mask mandate was recently dropped, there are some airlines that have decided to continue enforcing mask restrictions. Another thing to note is that the lifting of the mask mandate does not apply to most international flights. Call your airline ahead of time to check what rules and regulations they have in place so that you can be prepared.
If you’ve got the travel bug and need a passport, Swift can help! You can get the process started for a passport renewal, new passport, or child passport on our website. If you have any questions about obtaining a passport or visa for an upcoming trip, please contact our team! We’d be happy to help. No matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
