Business leaders call for air bridge between London and New York

Business leaders today ramped up pressure on the Government to create an air bridge between the UK and US amid fears the lack of a plane route is preventing deals. Chief executives want ministers to run trials of a coronavirus testing system on long-haul routes from London to New York to reduce the damage from travel restrictions. Airlines are calling for a system which tests passengers on departure or arrival, and again five days later. If they test negative twice, they would not be required to quarantine for two weeks. A report today estimates the collapse in air travel between the UK and the world’s largest economy will cost GBP11b this year. The Airlines UK report, commissioned by Heathrow airport and IAG, claims GBP3.5b could be lost from a lack of US tourists and business travellers alone. Advertising tycoon Sir Martin Sorrell, who runs S4 Capital, said an air bridge with New York is a “good idea”, and Los Angeles and San Francisco should also be included. He said: “It would be very useful, particularly for bankers with so much M&A and IPOs taking place. I think people will understand that business needs to carry on and business people need to travel.” Sorrell said smaller deals could be agree over video calls. “But for the big deals with so much at stake I think you have to meet and look people in the eye,” he said.<br/>