Sudden break out of highly contagious Covid mutation in UK forced travel restrictions

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Airlines decided to close down all of a sudden owing to the outbreak of highly contagious mutation of Covid-19 recently spiked in UK and South Africa. This impacted negatively on travel and tourism and airlines prompted closed down in several routes around the world.

Countries from Italy to India to El Salvador were forced to ban flights from the U.K. or travellers who have visited in the cities after Britain raised alarm on the quick virus spread. Canada also mentioned that they have planned to suspend passenger flights from UK for another 72 hours.

The U.S. has banned foreign traveller’s entry especially from European countries or those who have visited UK. However, the white house have not opined formally about their decisions regarding travel bans and flight suspension.

The virus and travel restrictions have decimated air travel demand, particularly for international flights. Airlines have drastically scaled back their trans-Atlantic service. Delta Air Lines, for example, last year operated eight nonstop flights a day to London Heathrow and now has two flights a day. American Airlines last month, even before concerns about the new strain of the virus, drastically reduced its London service due to weak demand. United Airlines said it won’t charge passengers booked to and from London on or before Jan. 17 any change fees or fare difference if they want to fly on a different day.

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