Air safety & security: Traveller perceptions post the Malaysian Air disasters

Abstract

Air transport is of substantial importance to economies, societies and freedom as it connects businesses and individuals with the world. However, two recent Malaysia Airlines incidents have resulted in even more security measures at airports and have anecdotally changed the security and safety perceptions of the traveling (or no longer traveling) public. Our study investigates for the first time attitudes towards air travel, safety and security and determines empirically if travellers are willing to experience even more invasive security measures in light of these tragedies. Our results suggest that there is a latent demand for air services despite the recent of the Malaysian Airline tragedies. Out of our proposed measures the presence of visible uniformed police creates the greatest feeling of security and it is seen as important to better communicate what security operations do and why it is effective in threat minimisation. We find willingness to pay for avoiding additional incidents both in terms of money and time but respondents are also willing to pay more to speed up the security process. Our results also suggest there is no desire to accept security processes that invade privacy considerably more what is currently practiced. We conclude that with respect to air travel the magnitude of trade-of between personal freedoms for improved security is limited. Travellers appear willing to accept risks, or perceive them as isolated and limited to airlines with inferior safety records and/or destinations with inferior security records.