Airlines push for faster restart of trans-Atlantic travel

Airlines hit hard by Covid-19 sought swifter action to loosen restrictions on travel following pledges from the US and the UK to reopen lucrative trans-Atlantic links. Carriers welcomed an agreement by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson to create a joint task force to explore options for resuming flights, but are pushing for their administrations to go further than the tentative gesture. “Quickly is the key,” said Airlines for America. “We believe the science is already there.” Vaccinated people ought to be able to travel, added Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG. Given progress with rolling out inoculations in both countries, “we don’t see why they have to have restrictions between the US and the UK.” The North Atlantic corridor joining the US with Europe is the single most profitable corner of the global aviation market, filled with premium travelers paying extra for first-class and business-class seats. The connection pumps billions of dollars into the British and American economies and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to Drew Crawley, CCO of American Express Global Business Travel. “The continued closure of these vital routes for more than 400 days has been detrimental to economic recovery in both countries,” Crawley said.<br/>