{"id":135169,"date":"2021-08-11T08:42:57","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T08:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=135169"},"modified":"2021-08-11T08:42:57","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T08:42:57","slug":"covid-19-heathrow-pleads-for-us-to-ease-travel-restrictions-as-passenger-numbers-creep-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/business\/covid-19-heathrow-pleads-for-us-to-ease-travel-restrictions-as-passenger-numbers-creep-up\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: Heathrow pleads for US to ease travel restrictions as passenger numbers creep up"},"content":{"rendered":"
Heathrow Airport has urged the United States to lift its restrictions on travellers from the UK while reporting an improvement in passenger numbers last month.<\/p>\n
The hub airport said it handled more than 1.5 million travellers during July – a 74% lift on the same month a year ago but still 80% down on pre-COVID-19<\/strong> pandemic traffic.<\/p>\n It credited an easing in the government’s rules on some international destinations though the uplift was yet to reflect the decision to allow fully-vaccinated people from the US and EU<\/strong> to travel to the UK without the need to quarantine.<\/p>\n That is because it only came into force earlier this month – in time for the crucial family summer holiday season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The decision has not yet been met by a reciprocal easing of restrictions for travellers from the UK.<\/p>\n Heathrow said North American passenger numbers grew by nearly 230% on July 2020 and New York’s JFK airport reclaimed the top spot as Heathrow’s most popular route.<\/p>\n But it added: “With fully vaccinated US visitors now able to travel to the UK without the need to quarantine, the joint UK\/US travel taskforce must capitalise on the UK’s world-leading vaccine rollout and reach a reciprocal agreement for fully vaccinated UK travellers.”<\/p>\n It also pleaded for other “vital trading links” to be restored – such as with Canada and Singapore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Heathrow’s chief operating officer, Emma Gilthorpe, said of the situation: “Finally, some blue skies are on the horizon, as travel and trade routes slowly reopen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “The job though is far from complete. Government must now capitalise on the vaccine dividend and seize the opportunity to replace expensive PCR tests with more affordable lateral flow tests.<\/p>\n “This will ensure travel remains attainable for hardworking Brits, desperate for well-earned getaways and keen to reunite with loved ones before the summer travel window closes.”<\/p>\n