UK airlines respond to Government announcement on opening up of international travel

February 22nd, 2021

Responding to the announcement by the Government on the opening up of international travel later this year, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“We’re grateful to the Prime Minister and Department for Transport for providing the clarity the whole sector was looking for that international travel can reopen this summer, as soon as it is safe to do so. This will provide much needed reassurance not only to airlines in desperate need of a summer season but families looking to visit friends and family and take a long-awaited holiday, and we know there is enormous pent-up demand for when we can restart operations. We now look forward working with Ministers and as part of the proposed Taskforce on the practical detail of how current restrictions – which are amongst the toughest anywhere in the world – can be removed, and how the sector can be provided with as much advance notice as possible before any restart. As we have always said, this must be risk-based and proportionate but based on the overriding assumption that as the vaccine rollout accelerates a phased easing of restrictions is achievable.”