Nov 11, 2020 - Economy & Business

Travel industry could see “new normal” post-pandemic

Illustration of an airplane in the air, being held back by a string that a hand is reaching out to cut with a pair of scissors.

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Business travel could settle into a "new normal" that's 10%-20% lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian recently suggested per AP.

What they're saying: With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, demand for flights has dwindled. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told AP that overall passenger revenue is down 70%. Business travel — normally more than a third of Southwest's traffic — is off by 90%.

The big picture: The pandemic has proven that working from home can be a viable option, which may reduce business travel even after the global outbreak is over.

  • TSA screenings on Tuesday were one-third of what they were the same day in 2019 — 800,000 vs. 2.5 million.
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