Welcome Back to the United Crowds Fly in as International Travel Restrictions are Lifted
BY JEFF YAPALATER
November 8th was a big day
Counting the days of reunion are over!
for international travel into the
USA. After 20 months, severe
travel restrictions were lifted for
travel into the U>S>. At JFK Airport
Terminal 7, British Airways
held an outstanding celebration
for their first flight back to JFK.
Flight BA100 (originally used by
the Concorde) was filled with
families, tourists and business
flyers eager to be on this first trip.
Oh hand were management
from the Port Authority, British
Airways and American Airlines.
And crew members. Balloons,
food, and special baked NY designed
cookies were shared with
the arriving travelers, their waiting
families and a multitude of
press covering the emotional and
happy event.
JFK GM Charles Everett had
this to say, ”It is a very exciting
day for JFK since we now can
lift restrictions allowing more international
travelers coming into
the airport, It’s good for airport
as well as local economy. We
will certainly see an increase in
passenger traffic and looking
forward to it and delighted and
ready for it. We have been waiting
for over 20 months for this to
happen.”
CEO of BA Sean Doyle was
on this flight and excited to be
part of this event.
“For 600 days or more we
haven’t been able to fly people
from Europe and the UK to the
U.S. so it important that people
are able to unite with loved ones
.We are delighted to be part of
it. It is a big celebration not just
for BA but everyone in aviation.
A key day with our partners
at American Airlines. We are
amazed by our welcome here,
a real NY welcome. The energy,
the excitement, we feel at home
again”
Chief Revenue Officer for
American Airlines Vasu Raja
echoed his words,
“Incredibly exciting to feel the
energy here. So many people
being able to do this once again.
We an anticipate a full rebound
of international travel. You see
it already today. You see it in the
numbers. It’s really great to be
here.”
AIRPORT V 20 OICE, NOVEMBER 2021
BA’s Doyle also announced
that the flight was the first to use
SAF. “While flying is vital to connect
the world and support the
UK’s economic recovery from
the pandemic, it’s important for
us to use this moment to demonstrate
how we’re driving our
decarbonization plans forward,
and what the future will look like
for aviation. That’s why we’ve directly
powered our first flight to
the US today with sustainable
aviation fuel and offset emissions
on behalf of our customers.
We’re looking forward to the
Government’s continued support
to ensure the development
and mass production of sustainable
aviation fuel continues at
pace.”
BA Station Manager Anita
Meehan said, “This is a celebratory
event for us. We are going to
have UK travelers coming back
to the U.S, with tourism increasing.
We are happy to see our sisters
and brothers from the other
side of the pond again.”
Asked about the future of BA
& AA Doyle said, “ We are joined
at the hip. Some really exciting
projects are coming. The new expanded
T8 will be fantastic. We’ll
win together. So many things you
will see more of. We are grateful
for all the support American
continues to give us. “ He added.
“This is lifeblood for jobs. It is a
wonder of travel.”
As part of One World, British
Airways and American Airlines
are also business partners.
When the renovations and expansion
are made to Terminal 8,
BA will join American and other
airlines in the expanded terminal.
BA has 34,000 workers and AA
has 128,000 workers worldwide
making their alliance formidable.
As Dolye and Raja were
speaking with colleagues and
the press, passengers filed out of
the Customs Hall and were met
by clapping BA& AA crew members,
hand painted Welcome
signs, plates of cookies, refreshments
and snack nibbles. Moms,
siblings and friends embraced,
many not having seen each other
for almost 20 months or years.
Then there were the average
tourists who managed to snag a
seat on this and other flights on
this day after being stymied by
covid restrictions.
This was the day airlines,
business partners and travelers
from around the world were waiting
for. The energy and positivity
seen at Terminal & was indicative
of the celebrations that were occurring
at other airports around
the world.
The tide has turned and we
are beginning to relive a sense of
normalcy as more international
flights and people visit our country
and more and more begin to
interact in person. Everyone is
looking forward to the upcoming
holiday travel season when more
travelers will bring holiday cheer
to concessions and hospitality
business in and around the airports
and NYC.
Virgin Atlantic and BA flights lifted off at the same time from Heathrow Airport to JFK Airport. Virgin beat out BA, landing at JFK by 4 minutes. Both
were A350/1000 aircraft. Hard to say whether this wasplanned or did the better route win? Photos by Jeff Yapalater