British Airways’ owners IAG said that they were hoping that the airline would make a “meaningful return” in July. However, this all depends on the UK lifting its current travel restrictions and whether travellers will be deterred by quarantine rules that are in place across some countries. Current Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice states that travelling abroad is prohibited unless it is for an “essential” purpose.
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This advice is in place “indefinitely”, according to the FCO.
British Airways has previously grounded its flights at Gatwick Airport due to the coronavirus.
It’s currently unclear whether they will be continuing its service at the airport once travel restrictions are lifted.
And now, BA has cancelled all its flights from Leeds Bradford airport to London Heathrow.
The airline, like many others, is cutting its network down due to the coronavirus.
A spokesperson for BA said: “We are sorry to suspend our flights to Leeds Bradford after many years.
“We regularly evaluate our routes based on where our customers tell us they want to travel.
“We remain committed to connecting businesses, families and friends right across our UK network.”
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There were three trips along the route per day before the coronavirus pandemic.
However, for summer 2020 only 10 departures were planned, according to The Independent.
Reportedly, the route was Yorkshire’s last flight connection to London with many travellers now having to resort to rail or fly from Manchester.
The International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), who also own Aer Lingus, said that BA’s return to flights in July would all depend on travel restrictions being lifted around the world.
They also said that they did not think passenger demand would recover for air travel before 2023.
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh, said previously: “We are planning for a meaningful return to service in July 2020 at the earliest, depending on the easing of lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world.
“We will adapt our operating procedures to ensure our customers and our people are properly protected in this new environment.
“However, we do not expect passenger demand to recover to the level of 2019 before 2023 at the earliest.”
The airline has also reportedly planned to cut 12,000 jobs after BA’s revenues plunged 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020.
IAG said in another statement: “In light of the impact of COVID-19 on current operations and the expectation that the recovery of passenger demand to 2019 levels will take several years, British Airways is formally notifying its trade unions about a proposed restructuring and redundancy programme.
“The proposals remain subject to consultation but it is likely that they will affect most of British Airways’ employees and may result in the redundancy of up to 12,000 of them.
“As previously announced, British Airways has availed itself of the UK’s COVID-19 job retention scheme and furloughed 22,626 employees in April.”
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