British Airways first flight to the US since the lifting of restrictions for the majority of UK travellers departed for New York JFK at 0830 this morning in a synchronised take-off with Virgin Atlantic Nov. 8, 2021. (Credit: britishairways)
DIPLOMATIC TIMES STAFF REPORT
British Airways flight BA001 became the airline’s first flight to depart for the US Monday, as the country lifted restrictions imposed on British travellers for more than 18 months. BA’s first flight to the US since the lifting of restrictions for the majority of UK travellers departed for New York JFK at 0830 this morning in a synchronised take-off with Virgin Atlantic. BA001, a flight number previously reserved for Concorde, is being directly powered by 35% sustainable aviation fuel – believed to be the first commercial transatlantic flight to ever be operated with this high percentage blend of sustainable aviation fuel. The British Airways A350 flight is being directly powered by a 35% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provided by bp and made from used cooking oil. It is believed to be the first commercial transatlantic flight ever to be operated with such a significant level of the fuel blended with traditional jet fuel.
In September, British Airways announced a collaboration with bp to source sustainable aviation fuel in respect of all flights between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh during the UK COP26 conference. British Airways’ parent company International Airlines Group recently committed to operating 10% of its flights using SAF by 2030.
The lifting of US restrictions after more than 600 days means that fully vaccinated Britons are now able to travel freely between the two countries – something that has not happened since March 16, 2020. The changes have enabled British Airways to meaningfully re-start direct services to 17 US destinations. The airline is set to extend its services to 23 US airports this winter, with up to 246 flights a week, more than any other transatlantic carrier. Flights to New York will increase from five to eight per day in December. There will also be double-daily services to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Dallas, Miami and Toronto, as well as daily services to Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Houston and Vancouver.
#BritsAreBack Dual take off at London Heathrow
British Airways’ Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle, who travelled on the BA001, said:
“Today is about celebrating the UK-US reopening of the transatlantic corridor after more than 600 days of separation, and it was fantastic to be able to mark this by synchronising the take-off of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights for the first time ever.”
British Airways first flight to the US since the lifting of restrictions for the majority of UK travellers departed for New York JFK at 0830 this morning in a synchronised take-off with Virgin Atlantic Nov. 8, 2021. (Credit: britishairways)
Emotions ran high in JFK Terminal 7 arrivals as customers were reunited, they could finally embrace and meet new grandchildren, family members and loved ones
BA001 flight number which was previously used for Concorde. Touching down at 11.15am local time, it was the airline’s first flight to arrive in the US following the restrictions.
Marking the busy day for transatlantic travel, British Airways collaborated with Royal Photographer, Chris Floyd to document the historic moment. After 604 days (19 months) of restrictions, BA001 flight carried friends and families separated with their loved ones due to the pandemic.
Emotions ran high in JFK Terminal 7 arrivals as customers were reunited, they could finally embrace and meet new grandchildren, family members and loved ones (see notes to editors for more passenger stories):
- Aysha and Vincent Matthew, now reside in New Jersey and welcomed their second child during the pandemic. Despite trying to get a National Interest Exemption so Aysha’s mum could support when she was postpartum, it got declined and today thanks to British Airways she was reunited with her mum and sister as they got to meet their new family member.
- Kushal Patel, welcomed his first child during the pandemic. With his family located in South London, none of them have met his one-year-old son. Today Kai will meet his family for the first time in his life.
- Liam Henry, from Manchester, England now lives in Brooklyn for work. It has been over two years since he has seen his parents, Alison and David and five years since seeing his grandmother, Patricia. During the pandemic his mum Alison relapsed with skin cancer and he’s been unable to support her during this turbulent time. They all booked on to the first flight from the UK to US to be reunited.
The airline’s newest and most fuel-efficient long-haul A350 aircraft are up to 40% more efficient than the Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet aircraft that used to operate between London and New York. Combining this modern aircraft efficiency with today’s blend of SAF means the flight’s overall CO2 emissions are more than 50 per cent less than those emitted by the now retired 747 aircraft that previously operated on this route.
