Heathrow has given Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines, a joint venture partner, permission to resume operations at Terminal 3 starting July 15.Terminal 3 was closed for more than a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, carriers operate from terminal 2.According to the airlines, they look forward to welcoming customers back on their home turf.Virgin Atlantic will fly to Antigua, Barbados and Grenada, which are all on the government's green list for international travel. Customers are not required to self isolate on their return.Delta continues to operate non-stop flights between Heathrow, Atlanta and New York-JFK despite restrictions for non-essential travellers from the UK.Virgin Atlantics Clubhouse and Revivals Lounge, as well as the Upper Class Wing, are all being reopened from July 15. Customers can order online or using a QR code. The menu will also be available via app.Corneel Koster is Virgins chief customer officer and operating officer. He said: We are delighted to be back on our own turf. I know that our teams cant get enough of welcoming our customers to Terminal 3 as they return to the skies in style with Virgin Atlantic.While it is a positive step that our customers will soon be able to enjoy our beloved facilities, the US government still needs recognition as a green destination. Travel between the UK and US remains closed. However, the US has 23 million people who are worth an estimated $23 billion each day. We call on the UK government and the Biden administrations to remove the 212F proclamation to UK travelers.Nadia Clinton, Deltas regional Sales Manager, stated that moving back to Terminal 3 will allow customers to enjoy the award-winning experience that they missed during the pandemic.We are confident that customers can travel between the two countries safely, given current vaccination rates. The risk of transmitting disease on an aircraft traveling between the UK & US was 1 in 1,000,000 according to a recent Mayo Clinic study. This is despite the fact that the planes have strong air filters and mandated masks. We ask the US and UK governments to allow non-essential travel.
