IATA head sees transatlantic re-opening in weeks

The head of global airline body IATA said he was cautiously optimistic about demand for travel in the second half of the year, adding that he expects transatlantic flying between Britain and the United States to re-open in the coming weeks. Schedules are expanding as airlines sense consumer demand for travel rising and progress with COVID-19 vaccinations means shuttered routes could resume, IATA DG Willie Walsh told reporters. "I think we have to be optimistic that we will see a relaxation in relation to transatlantic flying during the coming weeks," Walsh said Wednesday. Major airlines including American Airlines, IAG unit BA, Delta and United have for some months been pushing the US and UK governments to re-open travel between the two countries citing the pair's advanced vaccination programmes. Walsh said there had been no announcement on the matter at the G7 leaders meeting in June due to a lack of data about the vaccine's efficacy against the Delta variant of the virus, but that had changed now. A transatlantic re-opening would be a huge boost for the airlines. Walsh's optimism came after IATA published figures for May showing that passenger air travel demand remains subdued globally, 63% lower in May 2021 compared to the same month two years ago before the pandemic struck. Walsh blamed ongoing restrictions and a lack of co-ordination between governments for creating consumer confusion and hindering the speed at which aviation can recover.<br/>