Airlines ‘preparing for the restart of flights to the US from June 7’
AIRLINES are preparing for the restart of transatlantic travel from June 7, it is believed.
A bilateral agreement will come into force on the day of the next update on the UK’s traffic light system, airline sources say.
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It is understood the White House are looking at amending the presidential proclamation banning all foreign visitors imposed by Donald Trump in the early stages of the pandemic.
This would allow British travellers to fly again - and at the same time, the UK would add the US to the green list in our traffic light system, meaning no quarantine on return.
Brits will be able to enter the US with just a negative PCR taken up to 72 hours before they fly, they add.
They would need a negative pre-departure test to return home and take a PCR test within two days of arrival.
Brits have not been able to fly to the US since March last year.
Virgin Atlantic said: “There is no reason for the US to be absent from the green list.
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“We urge the UK Government to expedite talks with the Biden administration.”
British Airways said: “This can’t happen soon enough to help our two low-risk countries with world-leading vaccination programmes get back to normal.”
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “The USA and the UK are the two most vaccinated nations in the world. They are also the safest countries to be travelling between.
"President Biden is keen to open up the US to UK visitors during June and we’re certainly not far away from a re-opening. Airlines are expecting it, tour operators are expecting it and I’m expecting it. It would be the ultimate sealing of the special relationship, ahead of American Independence Day.”
The US State Department said: “We look forward to the resumption of transatlantic travel as soon as our medical and public health professionals advise.”
