British Airways owner IAG has said it is "ready to fly" and has called for government action to restart international travel. Citing pent-up demand, the airline group called for "travel corridors without restrictions" between certain countries. Some foreign holidays could be allowed when England's lockdown rules ease. Details of a "green list" of countries with the fewest travel rules are expected soon.
The airline group has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, with revenue plunging with many of its planes been grounded. IAG reported revenues of £840m for the first three months of the year, down from €4.6bn for the same period last year, and an operating loss of €1,07bn. It repeated its call for digital health passes "to enable a safe re-opening of our skies".
There will be some "opening up" of foreign travel on 17 May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. IAG - which also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling - is "doing everything in our power to emerge in a stronger competitive position," said Luis Gallego, IAG chief executive.
But the aviation industry is awaiting details of the government's travel traffic light system, which is expected to be announced shortly. The traffic light system of rules will see countries classed as green, amber or red. Travellers to green countries will not need to isolate on their return, but they will need to take a Covid test.
Arrivals from amber countries will need to quarantine, while red-list countries have the strictest rules, with only UK or Irish nationals allowed to return and they must pay to stay in a government quarantine hotel. Meanwhile IAG increased its number of cargo-only flights in the three months to 1,306, up from 969 in the previous quarter. "Cargo has enabled us to operate a more extensive passenger long-haul network," said Gallego. "It generated €350m in revenue, a record for quarter one."
