Following reports that the UK and the US are setting up a taskforce to look at the resumption of flights between the two countries the WTTC has called for both governments to “unlock transatlantic travel by 4 July at the latest” to save jobs.
Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, WTTC said: “Whilst we welcome the news of a taskforce aimed at safely reopening travel between the UK and the US, unless we have a clear timeline and unlock transatlantic travel by 4 July at the latest, we will continue to see jobs lost and businesses go under.
“Nearly half of all adults in both countries are fully-jabbed and could travel seamlessly straight away, enabling airlines and the wider travel sector to recover quickly. Those not vaccinated should be allowed to travel with negative test proof.
“In 2019, before the pandemic devastated the sector, the US was the biggest source market for the UK in terms of visitor numbers, the UK was third biggest source market for the US. This shows just how vital a corridor would be in boosting both economies.”
