Air bridge between London and New York possible with top level talks held
An “air bridge” between London and New York to enable travellers to sidestep quarantine is being discussed in top-level UK-US Government talks, The Telegraph understands.
Ministers are studying plans for regional “air bridges” which would enable business and other travellers to come to the UK from “low-risk” areas like New York city within countries like the US which are “red listed” because of their continued overall high coronavirus rates.
New York, which introduced one of the toughest lockdowns, has brought its seven-day infection rate down to just 7.2 cases per 100,000, which is below England’s 11.3 yet remains “red listed” forcing any American visitors to the UK to automatically quarantine for 14 days.
“There are discussions going on at a very senior level around opening up London and New York. They are at a very early stage but it is vital to get business going with a major trading partner especially as we near Brexit,” said a source.
Last week Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, confirmed ministers were examining the possibility of “regional travel corridors” which could allow quarantine-free flights from “low risk” areas within countries with high coronavirus rates.
Asked about the US-UK talks, a Department for Transport spokesman said: “Conversations between Governments in other countries on a whole range of issues take place regularly.
“Public health remains the UK’s top priority and we are committed to tackling this virus while enabling a sustainable and responsible return to international travel. We keep the data for all countries and territories under constant review and will not add a country to our travel corridor list unless safe to do so.”
BDL, Germany’s main aviation industry group, is already preparing with the US to launch a pilot project to link US airports in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and New York’s Newark with Frankfurt and Munich. It would rely on Covid-190 testing already in place in Boston and German airports.
Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel consultancy The PC Agency, said the US-UK talks would increase pressure on the Government to introduce Covid testing to enable incoming passengers to sidestep quarantine.
“The US will only agree to this if there is proper testing in place in the UK. The delay in establishing a testing policy is in danger of holding up the opening of commercially-important travel corridors,” he said.
An airport industry source added: “New York is the financial centre of the most powerful economic force in the world so we need to be able to fly there.”
It comes as the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the requirement for travellers returning to the US to quarantine for 14 days after visiting overseas destinations with a high number of confirmed coronavirus cases.
Agreeing a travel corridor with the US would also likely require Donald Trump to lift the US travel ban, which was imposed at the outset of the pandemic.
The moves come as the Government is expected to confirm that Switzerland is to have quarantine re-imposed following similar moves with France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It is understood, however, that Cuba may be included on the quarantine-free “green” list.
