BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 14
By Sadraddin Aghjayev – Trend:
The average value of additional costs to airfare increases the cost of a round trip for individuals by 90 percent, Trend reports referring to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to IATA, the average minimum cost for PCR testing worldwide is $90, and the average maximum - $208.
So, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average one-way airline ticket price, including taxes and charges, had been $200. A $90 PCR test raises the ticket price by 45 percent to $290.
"If to add another test to return, the one-way cost will jump another 45 percent to $380. Assuming two PCR tests in both directions are needed, the average cost for an individual return flight could rise to $760," said IATA.
Besides, according to IATA, the costs of COVID-19 testing on family travel would be even more severe.
Based on average ticket prices ($200) and the low-end PCR testing ($90), a trip for four people will cost $3,040 – with $1,440 being testing costs," IATA noted.
Total demand for air travel in March of this year decreased by 67.2 percent compared to March 2019. International passenger traffic in March was 87.8 percent below the month of 2019.
The decline in demand for domestic air travel in March this year amounted to 32.3 percent versus March 2019.
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