Due to severe British travel restrictions, the recovery of British Airways has been far behind European competitors in recent months. Now that the quarantine requirement is being abolished for full vaccinees from the EU and the US, as the British government announced this week, a catching-up can begin.

“British Airways is adding thousands of extra seats on major UK routes from the US and EU, after a huge increase in interest in travelling to London,” the British airline said. Shortly after the announcement that the quarantine obligation expires on 2 August, the number of bookings from the United States even increased by 95 percent.

British Airways is planning additional short-term flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle in the US and to European cities such as Berlin, Geneva and Hamburg. The British expect to be able to expand the flight schedule even further in September. Like other European airlines, BA continues to suffer from the US’s temporary enforcement of its entry bans.

“We look forward to welcoming new visitors from the US and the EU to the UK starting next week, many of whom will be reunited with their family members for the first time in many months. This step will also boost the UK economy and the hospitality industry, which, like aviation, is paralysed by the effects of the pandemic,” said top man Sean Doyle.

Moreover, Europeans and Americans cannot travel to London without restrictions. The quarantine will be abolished for all vaccinees, but they will still have to undergo testing.