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I think its worth remembering that from the 17th May, we can travel!
I was a bit downbeat after the announcement yesterday but woke up this morning and realised that I can go to many many countries and the only requirement is to take a pre departure covid test at both ends and quarantine for 5/6 days on return. Clearly, there are a number of countries that aren't allowing us entry but the amount that are is pretty substantial!
Currently, it was illegal to travel meaning IAG had very few passengers, looking at the forums i'm connected to, the mood seems upbeat, lots of people plan on travel from the 17th knowing that working from home is no longer the end of the world as many people have needed to adapt over the last 12 months
No idea what will happen with the SP next week but its worth bearing in mind that travel is officially no longer illegal and travel to green and amber locations no longer require a declaration form to be completed
As it stands, they will review every 3 weeks, its unlikely to go red but could stay amber.
If its amber you can still travel but you'll need to quarantine at home on return for 5/6 days if you use test to release
Hope that helps!
Looking at the seat map, I'm not sure it'll be all that quiet!
Business Class is still 100% full (I was expecting some people would cancel). I can do my job from anywhere with an internet connection so 5 days not being in the office wont harm me.
Hope you manage to get away soon!
I did contemplate switching to Portugal but the prices are unreal. I hope all airlines make the most of the greenlist status and double/ treble the amount of flights to Faro etc - perhaps utilise some of the wide body aircraft, they can easily fill them!
Symesuspect - I will travel as much as I did last year and the year before depending on which EU locations are restriction free.
I don't think companies are all taking this super green approach the media make out. Physical meetings are needed, team meetings don't match the efficiency or personal touch a face to face can achieve.
Aso, its worth remembering - over the last 12 months, many new employees haven't met their colleagues - i know my clients want to make up for this missed interaction asap
I've already been asked if i would travel to US/Germany/ Austria to meet several clients which I will asap.
On a personal (some business), I already have trips booked to the US (x4), Caribbean (x3), Spain (x3) this year
Personally, I don't think the PCR will be an issue for IAG.
The money people are willing to spend to travel to the US/ Caribbean makes the £100 a drop in the ocean.
The PCR issue will hurt the EU market a lot more as people wont wont to spend more on tests than the flight itself!
Big-Blue - The PC Agency are often discussed on the BA gold group on facebook.
He has a lot of respect from the industry and travellers as he often gets his predictions right! (last year he seemed to know each country which was about to open/ get kicked off the safe list etc before anyone else!)
I'm with you D9, the US will be on the greenlist, we will probably not be on theres for a few weeks but even still, the pent up demand is huge and premium seats are being sold for high amounts (for all airlines) from now till September
Is it still happening tomorrow?
For personal reasons, I'm very excited, for business reasons, I'm very excited and for investment reasons, I'm very excited.
If the following countries are green, I'll be chuffed!
USA (even from June/ July)
Caribbean - not expecting all islands but hoping for Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia, Tobago and maybe Jamaica
Europe - from July will be a win
Asia - most likely far east
Middle East - i'd be surprised
South America - cant see it happening this year from the UK - Spain to Latam might be a different story
Canada - August
I'd be interested to see what RR have to say
I live around 20 miles from Gatwick and there has been a noticeable increase of planes in the sky over the last week (mostly EZY & BA planes)
Clearly on the decent into Gatwick but when you check LGW arrivals, they're at similar levels to the last couple of months
It makes me think they're either repositioning some aircraft or using the maintenance base at LGW (I didn't think easyjet had a hanger there but could be wrong) Either way, its nice to see a few aircraft in action
I understand the caution TP. I think the results will be "as expected" reduced cash burn, increased revenue via cargo and similar load factors to the last quarter
They seem to be increasing prices so these flights going daily to JFK/ LAX etc etc are 80% + empty but theyre keeping the fares high to limit the loss
I disagree regarding the announcement on travel corridors, EU does not bring in all that much profit for BA when theyre not coming to the UK to then connect to a long haul destination. If the link with the US is opened in the coming weeks, this will have a positive impact on the SP and near term trading. If it doesnt happen till September or later, this will have a negative impact
I'm going to go all in (again) on IAG.
I'm feeling very optimistic the UK/ US travel routes will be open before the summer (most likely June/ July). The pent up demand is huge.
For those that have read my posts in the past will be aware I'm a frequent traveller even during covid, looking at some of the routes to the caribbean in May (17th and later) and June, the demand is clearly huge. Business Class is sold out to two destinations and even premium economy only has one seat left (cost £1674). This tells me two things, firstly, people want to get away and many are looking long haul for a more likely trip (Europe has too many risks of cancellation currently) and secondly, the leadership team were right in predicting that leisure travellers want premium seats! A friend of mine paid over £4k for one seat return to Antigua in May! Thats big profit for BA
Thank you whoever gave me the tip on LRE - its now all coming back here!
I agree db9
The demand is there, people are itching to go away!
I think the airlines know more news than the general public as many flights in June to typical EU tourist destinations are behind cancelled
I still optimistic the US will open before Europe which is key for BA.
I’m not even convinced it will go to 170 (I’m still mostly out but still feel very positive regarding IAG and the long term prospects and have nothing negative to say regarding the steps the BOD have taken to ensure future success)