Britain may restart travel with the US next month

Friday, April 30, 2021

Britain could restart leisure travel with the United States next month as part of a plan to reopen its borders, according to the head of London’s Heathrow airport.

The progress on COVID-19 vaccinations in the two countries could allow the United States to be included on the so-called green list of countries from which people will be able to travel to the United Kingdom without quarantine, Heathrow Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye said.

Locations likely to feature on the list include Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Iceland, plus some Caribbean destinations, the CEO said. Heathrow has been in constant communication with the government over the impact of the pandemic as well as plans for a resumption in travel.

A restart of US services would come as a huge boost for Heathrow, which relies on the market for 20 per cent of its traffic.

The airport, Europe’s busiest before the pandemic, said passenger numbers remained stuck at just 9 per cent of usual levels in the first quarter as current curbs limit operations at carriers such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.

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