How Air Journey Is Impacted by the E.U. Ban on People

Other US airlines are cautiously working on the current restrictions and restarting certain routes to Europe. United Airlines, for example, announced on Wednesday that it would add a handful of major transatlantic European flights in August Add thousands of routes back this month.

“We’re in the worst situation right now where all borders are closed, and if you think about it globally, almost every country’s border is closed,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of international networks and alliances, on a media conference call on Wednesday. “But that didn’t stop us from flying because there are many repatriation. What you see is really a very step-by-step build based on the demand that is in the market today. “

However, travel restrictions are not the only hurdle airlines must overcome in order to get these routes fully operational again. If the EU ban on American travelers is lifted, it could still be an uphill battle getting travelers to book mass holidays in Europe. “Current evidence suggests that many travelers would be cautious about venturing overseas, even if border restrictions were lifted for fear of the scenery or changes in rules,” says Fenton, noting that the current 14-day Quarantine mandates in particular discourage both businesses and vacationers.

To mitigate this, flying to destinations with fewer restrictions is one of the few options airlines currently have in their playbook. “Given that US airlines will not be able to operate their usual volume of transatlantic services, they need to be opportunistic and redirect their networks to routes that are currently open to them and where there is a need,” says Fenton.

According to Quayle, the idea is part of United’s international route strategy: First, focus on the partner hubs of the European alliance, such as Brussels, Frankfurt and Munich, where passengers can establish flight connections (still permitted for US planes) and build from there can. In the meantime, the airline is adding flights to countries where restrictions are already being lifted. “It’s about adding a lot of latitude and flying a lot to Latin America, where the borders should open, and then gradually and intelligently adding flights across the Atlantic to our partner hubs,” he says.

This could appear as a risk, especially since operating partially full aircraft on such routes could mean that the airlines are operating at a significant loss, according to Fenton. United can make up the difference by adding additional cargo and other merchant shipping services on the newly launched European routes, according to Quayle. As a result of the crisis, airlines are learning to deal with their flight plans more quickly than ever before. “Gone are the days of months of route studies,” says Fenton. “Airlines are now using data to make these decisions in real time.”

Most airlines still keep it ready for travelers to vacation in Europe if the situation improves. “Once the EU travel ban on Americans is lifted, you can be sure that US airlines will move at warp speed to resume services,” says Fenton. “And pent-up demand can actually serve to expand the traditional Summer travel timeSome suggest that September could be the new July. “

We report daily on how COVID-19 is affecting travel. Here you can find all information about coronavirus and travel resources.