Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 30, 2025

COVID-19: Airline industry chief lashes out at EU and UK over travel restart

COVID-19: Airline industry chief lashes out at EU and UK over travel restart

Willie Walsh expresses several frustrations but says the EU is currently denying citizens a fundamental right.

The head of a global aviation body has criticised the UK and EU's handling of the restart of international travel amid continuing coronavirus restrictions.

Willie Walsh, who headed the parent firm of British Airways IAG until September last year, was speaking in his capacity as director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) following more than a year of COVID-19 disruption to global travel.

It has seen the aviation industry forced to raise cash and shrink fleets at the cost of thousands of jobs, including 13,000 at BA alone, in a bid to ride out the unprecedented turbulence.

In an interview with Ian King Live, Mr Walsh declared he was "optimistic" about a global recovery over the remainder of the year but agreed Europe was the largest area for concern as traffic struggles to get off the ground amid continuing restrictions.

In the UK, the government's roadmap aims to allow foreign holidays from 17 May at the earliest under a destination 'traffic light' system to minimise the risk of infections being brought back from high-risk countries.

It will be coupled with a virus testing regime for anyone heading abroad.

But Mr Walsh echoed concerns of airline industry executives, including the boss of easyJet, who said that the PCR tests demanded under the rules risked "pushing the cost of travel beyond the means of many people".

While ministers have pledged to find ways to bring the cost down, MPs have expressed frustration over the lack of clarity and demanded more information on the reopening of the foreign holiday market by the end of the month.

The IATA boss hit out at the EU's handling of the situation as the bloc's vaccination programme catches up after a slow start.

Willie Walsh is a former pilot who ran BA before taking over as chief executive of parent company IAG


"I am disappointed with the way Europe has managed this. I would have expected a more cohesive and integrated response from EU countries, particularly in the post-Brexit environment.

"When you consider freedom of movement is one of the fundamental principles of the EU, that freedom has either been suspended or withdrawn.

"I think it's a very tough measure and clearly understood when there's a health crisis but when you see progress being made I think it's natural and reasonable to believe that the restrictions in place be relaxed to enable people to start exercising the freedom again."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
×