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British Airways Flight BA001 (right) and Virgin Atlantic Flight VS3 (left) make their synchronized departure on parallel runways at London Heathrow Airport. Photo: Doug Peters / PA

There was a clear sky at London Heathrow and a brilliant new dawn for its biggest customers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, who took off simultaneously on Monday morning in a demonstration of extraordinary solidarity and flew west with planes full of passengers and revenue at last, the US finally opened its borders again for foreign visitors.

Our transport correspondent Gwyn Topham, who is on board the BA flight, reports.

For both airlines, the U.S. markets make up most of their business – nearly 40% for BA, with six flights scheduled to New York JFK alone today, while 10 of Virgin’s 21 flights departing today are to America walk.

A few Americans have traveled across the transatlantic, and more since August when the UK and EU eased restrictions on incoming quarantined visitors. But it’s been more than 600 days since airlines were able to sell in their largest market, which is crucial to recovering from the pandemic.

In a pre-flight speech, Virgin CEO Shai Weiss described this as “a turning point”.

Many other flights departed from Heathrow Terminal 5 – albeit about half as many as two years ago – but there was only one destination in the city. To underline the importance to those who missed it, the BA check-in, the cabins and even the airlift from the gate to the plane are decorated with American flags.

The planes took to the skies shortly after 8:50 a.m. in their most fuel-efficient models, the A350, after both airlines prematurely retired their famous 747 jumbos as a cost-saving measure during the pandemic. BA flight 001 took off on the northern runway, Virgin flight VS3 rose exactly parallel into the air.

BA boss Sean Doyle told passengers about the Tannoy:


“This is a real moment of celebration. I know how much it means to you today – some haven’t seen loved ones for two years, others couldn’t do business. “

He also told them that flight BA001 ran on a blend of 35% sustainable aviation fuel [SAF] – The largest mix to date used on a commercial flight, while the remaining emissions would be offset by wind and solar energy projects.

“In the coming years,” said Doyle, “we will see all of our long-haul flights run on SAFs.”

It was a reminder that aviation still has many challenges ahead of it. For now, however, some optimism has returned.

Friends and family were some of the first to book planes this week, airlines said. Doyle said there had also been significant bookings from corporate clients and small businesses, belittling the idea that business travel is dead. Bankers in particular had booked the return flight, which drove up revenues from premium cabins.

But vacationers have also filled the front ends of the aircraft, says Claire Bentley, Managing Director of BA Holidays:


“People arm themselves, treat themselves.”

City breaks were generally not sought during the pandemic for those who tried to get away despite testing requirements and travel restrictions, she said.

However, the largest city on the US east coast has long been a bestseller and is coming back quickly:


“New York is a category of its own.”

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