On Wednesday 11th March the US government announced a 30-day ban on travellers arriving from Schengen countries.
Today, 14th March, President Trump announced that travel restrictions will be expanded to individuals coming from the UK and Ireland.
“The President has made a decision to suspend all travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland, effective midnight Monday, EST. Americans in the UK and Ireland can come home…but they will be funneled through specific airports and processes.”
Mike Pence, Vice-President United States
US citizens and permanent residents are permitted to return to the country under the ban, but must enter the USA via one of 13 “gateway airports” where they will be medically screened.
These airports are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington Dulles.
The US market is one of the most profitable, with dozens of daily transatlantic flights attracting high-paying customers. Now European and American airlines will have to adjust or even cancel flights.
Delta said on 13 March that they were cutting 40% of capacity and grounding 300 jets, about one-third of their fleet. On Friday American Airlines announced that they were cutting 75% of their international capacity, with a 50% capacity decline to Europe during the month of April.
Covered Image by David Dyson