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A coalition of transatlantic airlines have demanded that President Biden and Boris Johnson lift “overly cautious” travel restrictions between the US and UK given the strength of the two countries’ coronavirus vaccine programmes.

The companies, which include all the carriers offering passenger services between the nations and other industry players including Heathrow Airport, argued that fully reopening the key market was “essential to igniting economic recovery” on both sides of the ocean.

American Airlines, British Airways (BA), Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic issued the plea at a time when the UK is tightening its green list of destinations and just days ahead of a meeting between the two leaders in Cornwall this week – the first face-to-face encounter since the president was elected.

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They said in their statement: “With world-leading vaccination programmes in both the UK and US, there is a clear opportunity to safely open up travel between these two low-risk countries, enabling consumers on both sides of the Atlantic to reconnect with loved ones, re-establish business relationships and explore new destinations after more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions.”

They pointed to a £23m hit to the UK economy for each day the rules remained in place.

The US is on the UK’s amber list, which requires travellers to the country to quarantine for 10 days when they arrive home and pay for two PCR coronavirus tests.

Entry requirements for the United States demand that UK citizens provide a negative COVID test ahead of arriving in the US, proof of recovery or are fully vaccinated.

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The industry issued its plea at a time when it remains under severe financial pressure globally.

COVID-19 restrictions have taken a hard toll on transatlantic operators for 15 months – rules that have been blamed for the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the two countries.

BA alone has cut almost 13,000 roles while Virgin, which secured a refinancing to survive the turbulence, was also forced to halve its own workforce last year as demand slumped.

The UK airlines highlighted a recent York Aviation report that a second “lost summer” for international travel would result in £55.7bn in lost trade and £3bn in tourism if reopening was delayed until September.

Shai Weiss, the CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “There is no reason for the US to be absent from the UK ‘Green’ list.

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“This overly cautious approach fails to reap the benefits of the successful vaccination programmes in both the UK and the US.”

He added: “We urge Prime Minister Johnson and President Biden to lead the way in opening the skies, making it a top priority at the G7 Summit.”

His counterpart at United, Scott Kirby, commented: “Throughout the pandemic, experts have encouraged governments, businesses and the public to follow the science.

“United and other airlines have done just that and implemented the necessary safety protocols to confidently re-open key international routes like the air corridor between our two countries.

“Programs like the trials of COVID-free flights between Newark and Heathrow and the US Department of Defense air filtration study conducted on board United aircraft not only contributed to the body of scientific knowledge, they have demonstrated the near non-existent rates of viral transmission aboard an aircraft.

“And now, through mobile app, travelers can upload verified test results and vaccine records before international travel.”

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Rachel Reeves threatens to sue Roman Abramovich over Chelsea FC sale proceeds

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Rachel Reeves threatens to sue Roman Abramovich over Chelsea FC sale proceeds

The chancellor and foreign secretary are threatening to take Roman Abramovich to court to seize the proceeds of his Chelsea FC sale.

The Russian oligarch, who is sanctioned by the UK government over his alleged links to Vladimir Putin, sold Chelsea for £2.5bn to an American consortium in 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Those funds remain in a frozen UK bank account but are meant to be used for humanitarian causes linked to the Ukraine war.

Roman Abramovich was seen by Ukraine as a potential go-between with Vladimir Putin
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Abramovich has denied close ties to Vladimir Putin. File pic: Reuters

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy have now said they are “deeply frustrated” an agreement cannot be reached with the oligarch and will take him to court if it cannot be dealt with soon.

In a joint statement, they said: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.

“While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”

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"We can all see over the last months how much the world is changing, but the British government isn't just going to stand by and watch that change.
"We ought to shape it in our national interest.
Image:
Rachel Reeves said she was ‘deeply frustrated’ an agreement had not been reached by Roman Abramovich

Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea – which he bought for a reported £140m – after 19 years of ownership, after being sanctioned by the government over his alleged close ties to the Russian president – something he denies.

The sale was made under the supervision of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, under the proviso the proceeds go to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

They cannot be moved or used without a licence from the office.

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In March, the Foreign Office said officials were in talks with Abramovich’s representatives, but multiple sources told the BBC there had been no meetings between any Labour ministers and members of the foundation set up to oversee the funds since last July’s general election.

They said there was a deadlock and a political decision by a minister is needed to negotiate and sign off an agreement.

It is not known if there have been meetings in the three months since then.

The £2.5bn – and interest accrued – would make up for some of the reduction in the aid budget, announced in February.

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Water industry: Commission finds five areas where ‘fundamental change’ is needed

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Water industry: Commission finds five areas where 'fundamental change' is needed

“Interlocking failures” in the water sector across England and Wales can be fixed through fundamental reform in five key areas, according to a major interim report.

The Independent Water Commission, established last year and led by a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, was scathing of government and regulatory oversight of the industry – long blighted by criticism over performance, particularly over sewage spills, shareholder payouts and bonuses for bosses.

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Sir Jon Cunliffe said: “There is no simple, single change, no matter how radical, that will deliver the fundamental reset that is needed for the water sector.

“We have heard of deep-rooted, systemic and interlocking failures over the years – failure in government’s strategy and planning for the future, failure in regulation to protect both the billpayer and the environment and failure by some water companies and their owners to act in the public, as well as their private, interest.

“My view is that all of these issues need to be tackled to rebuild public trust and make the system fit for the future. We anticipate that this will require new legislation.”

The commission, which is due to make its final recommendations later in the summer, failed to rule out the creation of a super regulator to bring oversight into alignment.

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Currently, regulation is muddied by a multi-body approach that includes Ofwat and the Environment Agency.

The five areas under scrutiny:
• Long term direction from government, including through the planning process.
• The creation of a simplified legislative framework, which could include new objectives around public health.
• Regulation but “a fundamental strengthening and rebalancing of Ofwat’s regulation is needed”, it is argued.
• Transparency and accountability within private water firms.
• The management of water industry assets, including pipework.

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Sir Jon added: “I have heard a strong and powerful consensus that the current system is not working for anyone, and that change is needed. I believe that ambitious reforms across these complex and connected set of issues are sorely needed.

“I have been encouraged to see, on all sides of the debate, that people have been prepared to engage constructively with our work; I look forward to that continuing as we enter the final stages.”

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Ex-BT chief Patterson sounded out about £300m Waves Audio float

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Ex-BT chief Patterson sounded out about £300m Waves Audio float

A former BT Group chief is being lined up to steer an audio technology business used by many of the world’s leading musicians through a £300m London flotation.

Sky News has learnt that Gavin Patterson, who now sits on various boards including Ocado Group, is in talks to chair Waves Audio ahead of a listing which could come as soon as next month.

City sources said an agreement between the company and Mr Patterson had yet to be finalised.

Sky News revealed several weeks ago that Waves Audio, which is headquartered in Israel, had hired bankers from Panmure Liberum to oversee an initial public offering (IPO).

The company, which is majority-owned by founders Meir Sha’ashua and Gilad Keren, is expected to raise millions of pounds from the sale of new shares, although the details have yet to be finalised.

Waves Audio makes professional digital audio signal processing technology and audio effects used in recordings, mixing, mastering, post-production, broadcasting and live sound.

It employs more than 200 people, and has a major international presence, including in Europe and the US.

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A successful float on London’s main market would be a relative rarity given the depressed level of IPO activity in the last couple of years.

Data compiled by EY, the professional services firm, showed that there were just five new listings on the London market in the first quarter of the year.

Pessimism about the outlook for flotations has been compounded by a steady trickle of companies cancelling their London listings or shifting them overseas – with drugmaker Indivior the latest to abandon the City on Monday.

The UK market’s biggest hope – that Shein, the Chinese-founded online fashion retailer, would defy the impact of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and list in London – appears to have been dashed, with reports last week suggesting that it would float in Hong Kong instead.

A spokesman for Waves Audio declined to comment.

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