The recovery of long-distance mobility after COVID-19: What can we expect?

Abstract

Europe experienced a dramatic and rapid drop of mobility in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the different lockdowns periods. The impact was immediate and severe for long-distance travel in particular for the air transport industry. This crisis may also have long-term implications for the travel industry notably for business trips with the adoption of new ways of working. In this article, we point out the resilience of travel behaviors since we suggest that the pandemic is more likely to accelerate preexisting trends. Using time series data from Eurostat, we observe a preexisting decreasing trend for corporate travel. Data also suggest that flygskam is gaining Europe since 2018 with a slight reduction of air transport demand. These figures shed light on the near future of mobility in Europe. Leisure travel will be essential for operators’ recovery, opening up new business opportunities for rail transport (night trains, low-cost, etc.).