Four major airlines are asking the United States and the European Union to identify a joint COVID-19 verification program to repair confidence in the “critical” transatlantic air as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
The signatories of the letter, dated July 21, come with senior executives from United, American, Lufthansa and International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways.
“Given the undisputed importance of transatlantic air travel to the global economy, as well as for the economic recovery of our businesses,” they wrote, “it is imperative to find a way to reopen air facilities between the United States and Europe. . “
The letter, addressed to Vice-President Mike Pence and Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, said that the evidence “could be essential to have some confidence and allow them to resume without quarantine situations or other access restrictions.”
Airlines are eager to rebuild their percentage of the transatlantic market as the coronavirus pandemic decimated their business.
“No one will get advantages from a prolonged closure of this room that is maximum for world aviation,” they wrote.
United said Tuesday that it lost $1.63 billion in the quarter when profits fell 87 percent, and would operate just over a third of its capacity in September.
United is about to lay off 36,000 workers in October, a third of its global workforce.
United earned a $3.5 billion federal grant and a $1.5 billion payroll coverage loan. The program was designed to stabilize airlines and keep staff engaged until they can reduce their activities to reality caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
American warned staff last week that the airline will have to fire up to 25,000 frontline employees this fall. The Texas-based airline earned a $4.1 billion grant and a $1.7 billion loan under the same payroll program. American lost more than $2 billion in the first 3 months of the year.
U.S. citizens have not been allowed to enter 26 European countries since March. The United States leads the world in coronavirus cases, with more than 3.8 million and nearly 141,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Contributors: Dawn Gilbertson, David Oliver, USA TODAY; The Associated Press