U.S and UK (Washington Insider Magazine) -British Airways, Jetblue, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines have joined forces to get the United States and United Kingdom to allow travel between the two nations.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, air travel has been on a rapid decline. According to Statista, passenger aviation was expected to lose $370 million in 2020 after the March lockdowns.
One year later, after thousands of airlines canceling its flights and still no travel between the U.S. and U.K., the transatlantic airlines came together to convince the two nations to “explore a path to safely and expeditiously reopen transatlantic travel in a manner that aligns with public health objectives.”
The open letter also stated the aviation industry has the right tools to “enable a safe and meaningful restart” to traveling between the two nations.
What it comes down to, however, is money. The statement added reopening borders between the two would help both economies recover.
“The return of transatlantic air travel would not only have a significant, positive impact on our respective economies, but will also reunite those who have been separated from their loved ones for over a year.”
The statement came out in May of 2021, and the British government is still waiting to hear from the Biden administration on when they will lift the travel ban.
Now that over 100 million Americans have received their first dose of the vaccine – and nearly 50 million people in the United Kingdom receiving their first dose – the White House said last month that fully vaccinated people can enter the U.S. as early as November, but a specific date was not announced.
The lack of communication between the two nations has seen frustrations growing from the British government, claiming it believes the Biden administration is not giving the travel restrictions any priority, according to The Independent.
The airlines are also in a panic, as travelers will begin to book their flights by Nov. 1 in hopes of seeing their families again.
