These Four Airlines Want to Open European Borders for Americans
Joe Cortez July 22, 2020
Four international airlines are asking both the United States and the European Union to come together and figure out a testing plan to open borders between the two countries. In a jointly-signed letter, executives from each of the carriers called for a “safe and swift restoration of air travel” between the two destinations.
Four airlines are asking the United States and the European Union to work together towards “the safe and swift restoration of air travel between the United States and Europe.” Reuters reports the chief executives of American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa Group and International Airlines Group sent their requests to U.S. vice president Mike Pence and European commissioner for home affairs Ylva Johansson.
Airlines Ask for Testing Programs to Restore Passenger Loads
As it stands today, both the United States and the European Union have a mutual tourism ban in place. The European Commission double-downed on their ban in their latest travel ban revision, while the United States’ ban of European travelers dates back to March 2020.
But the four major international airlines are now asking the executive wings of both governments to try and work together to open up travel before the busy summer season comes to an end. They suggest a testing trial for travelers, which can ensure travelers are not carrying or spreading the virus as they travel.
“We recognize that testing presents a number of challenges,” the airline leaders wrote in their letter. “However, we believe that a pilot testing program for the transatlantic market could be an excellent opportunity for government and industry to work together and find ways to overcome obstacles and explore all solutions to protect health, build confidence, and safely restore passenger travel between the U.S. and Europe.”
The airlines are not alone in calling for a testing plan to encourage international travel. Earlier in July, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) fronted a plan to offer testing upon arrival at the international hub, which could cut down the self-quarantine period from weeks to hours.
Neither the European Commission or the White House have commented on the letter, sent on July 21, 2020.
Airlines Desperate for Passengers as COVID-19 Pandemic Continues
The joint request from the airlines comes as airlines are reporting historically low returns over the first six months of 2020. Delta Air Lines reported a catastrophic loss of $7 billion over the second quarter of 2020, while United Airlines said the adjusted $2.6 billion loss was the worst in airline history.
American and Southwest Airlines will both report their financial numbers and passenger load information on Thursday, July 23, 2020.
Until there are people like above commenters who doubt masks, and idiot governors who are suing to stop the mask mandate, US will continue to have these issues. It is probably the ONLY country in the world not able to control effectively. Even far poorer countries with inadequate health care are atleast attempting to control this virus. This virus will be with us rest of this year, atleast in US and the new president has to start his presidency by declaring nationwide mask mandate with severe punishment for not doing so.
These border closures to the American travelers are totally unnecessary and do not make the world safer from COVID-19. There is certainly a very large degree of politics involved behind banning US travelers. We don't even need to look too far, the meanspirited and borderline hateful comments against US travelers, people or users on here and on other websites confirm it. That being said, a rather simple approach to solving this issue would be to have everyone screened regardless of nationality or origin just before boarding the flight as well as upon arrival. This is a proper and nondiscriminatory approach that would promote inclusivity rather than division, hatred or contempt. American travelers are singled out for political reasons, that's all there is to it. Brazil is soon to overtake the US by the number of cases and death, yet why is it there isn't a word about that anywhere? All we hear about is how Americans should be banned as though the USA is the sole country with COVID-19 infections in the world. What about other countries with extremely high rate of infections per capita? Should they not be banned too? Besides, the real numbers suggest that many European nations (and a few other regions of the world) have fared far worse than the US on a per capita basis, and the COVID-19 death rate in those places is unusually high. Finally, the US didn't cause this pandemic, yet everyone treats it as though they are responsible. It just isn't fair, right or honest. Although I do agree that people should wear masks where their use is required.
We've decided to continue working without flying and without physical meetings. We used to spend millions on travel. It's a whole lot cheaper to do videocalls (even if you invest in top notch facilities) and many people seem to be happier with the current way of working.
@jjmoore I guess you don't consider real-world results (like fewer deaths in countries with more sensible policies) to be valid data.
Since we’re in 2020 and nit in the 17th century, a help from biotechnology to curtail quarantine requirements to hours should be welcome and its implementation strongly funded. Testing increases disease awareness and fosters appropriate behavior, generic mandates and quarantine can create more frustration, skepticism etc. Reliable testing on arrival is a expense (both moral and financial ) many of us would be willing to foot to resume traveling and being able to see our loved ones without taking one month off to spend a ‘free’ day abroad All the rest of the discussion belongs to other topic fora