Major airlines want the US and British governments to launch a passenger testing trial for COVID 19 for flights between London and New York to pave the way for a resumption of more international travel.
In a letter to government transportation officials seen by Reuters, the chief executives of Airlines for America, Airlines UK, Heathrow Airport and Virgin Atlantic Airways said both governments should "establish passenger testing solutions in air travel.
"We believe that in the immediate absence of a vaccine, testing of passengers in aviation provides the best and most effective frontline defense."
They urged the governments to establish a testing trial between New York and London by month's end "to gather real world evidence and data."
US international travel has fallen by 87% during the coronavirus pandemic, which has battered the airline industry.
"One of the key steps to recovery is setting up an international pilot program between the US and either Europe, Canada, somewhere in the Pacific," she said, saying that could help eliminate some of the international quarantines now in place.
The US Transportation Department said it "stands ready to support the safe resumption of international flights between the US and Europe. Conversations are ongoing between the federal government, international partners, and industry stakeholders on these matters."
Separately, the ERA is encouraging air travel to be opened up between countries and remain open, avoiding the need for quarantine when passengers travel from countries with high COVID-19 infection rates.
As part of this, ERA recommends the use of regional corridors to allow for travel between regions where infection rates are low, as opposed to quarantine measures for entire countries which has a huge impact on consumers, businesses and the travel industry alike.
Montserrat Barriga, ERA director general, says, “As European air travel moves towards recovery, we are deeply in need of processes that ensure safety while also supporting aviation and the travel industry as a whole. By creating regional corridors and implementing a consistent approach to testing across Europe, we can provide passengers with not only the confidence to fly, but the confidence to travel without fear of sudden and unpredictable blanket quarantines.”