Airlines Band Together to Request Reopening of Trans-Atlantic Air Corridor

CF7AXK A BA (British Airways) airplane passes an A30 road sign beside Heathrow Airport, London, UK (close to Hatton Cross station).

With more individuals getting COVID-19 vaccines, the airlines are asking for direct guidance for re-opening aviation lanes between the United States and the United Kingdom. Seven carriers joined with Airlines for America signing a letter to transportation officials asking for a safe travel reopening.

International airlines are calling on transportation officials from the United States and the United Kingdom to set a direction to reopen travel between the two countries, as more COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed among the population. The open letter was signed by seven airlines and industry organization Airlines for America, asking for “a path of safely and expeditiously reopen trans-Atlantic travel.”

Reopening Borders “Essential for the Continued Economic Recovery of Both Nations”

In their letter, the leaders from American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic cite the increase in vaccinations as rationale behind their request. Noting that 42 percent of the adult U.S. population and 27 percent of the U.K. adult population have been fully vaccinated, the carriers say now is the time to set a plan in motion to resume normal air travel operations.

“Public health must guide the reopening of international air travel and we are confident that the aviation industry possesses the right tools, based on data and science, to enable a safe and meaningful restart to transatlantic travel,” the airline leaders write. “U.S. and UK citizens would benefit from the significant testing capability and the successful trials of digital applications to verify health credentials.”

The executives also note that re-opening travel lanes is “essential for the continued economic recovery of both nations.” Citing a report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the combined total of foreign direct investment between the two nations exceeded $1.3 trillion USD. Moreover, flying more passenger flights would expand air freight availability between the United Kingdom and the U.S. In 2019 alone, the group says airlines transported 900,000 tons of air cargo as part of business as usual.

“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 letter reads. “In 2019, over 22 million passengers travelled between the U.S. and the UK, with approximately four million of those travelers visiting friends and family.”

The letter comes after comments by the European Commission president, which suggested air travel could reopen this summer between the United States and continental Europe. Officials from either country have not publicly responded to the correspondence.

Reopening Borders Could be Arduous Task Without Standardization

Even though the airlines are hopeful they could reopen international travel, opening passenger flights could be difficult without agreeing to certain standards. While the U.S. government says they will not institute a COVID-19 health passport requirement, airlines are still in pursuit of two document standards: The IATA Travel Pass, and the Commons Foundation CommonPass.