Airlines could benefit when the EU eases restrictions on travel

US airlines have been bolstered by the return of customers eager to travel within the country or just outside its borders, but the nation’s largest carriers are still lamenting the loss of two particularly lucrative parts of the business: international and corporate travel. At least one of those could rebound this summer. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EC, said over the weekend that she expected the European Union to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated American tourists, a move that could let the airline industry cash in during the year’s busiest travel season. “Long-haul international flying represents a significant opportunity for United,” Andrew Nocella, the CCO for United, told investors last week. “We have seen in recent weeks that immediately after a country provides access with proof of a vaccine, leisure demand returns to the level of 2019 quickly.” American Airlines and United said this month that international travel remained about 80% lower than in 2019. They and other airlines expect strong demand for domestic flights this summer, and the restoration of trans-Atlantic travel could provide the industry a much-needed boost as it works to generate profits again. The news of the EU reopening to vaccinated American tourists was also welcomed by Willie Walsh, the director general of the IATA, who said it could bode well for carriers elsewhere, too.<br/>