Historic dual-take off from Heathrow celebrates return of US travel

Airlines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have marked the return of US travel with a rare twin take-off from Heathrow Airport on Monday morning.

The BA and Virgin flights - numbered BA001, a number usually reserved for Concorde flights, and VS3 - both left for New York JFK in the first ever dual take off of its kind from Heathrow at 8.30am.

The two aircrafts took to the skies in a “synchronised departure on parallel runways at Heathrow”, said a joint statement from the airlines.

It marks the first day since March 16 2020 that the vast majority of UK nationals have been able to fly to the US.

The US reopened opened its borders to fully vaccinated UK visitors on Monday in a significant boost to the travel sector.

Despite being competitors, both airlines have been hit hard by the pandemic and have campaigned for the safe return of trans-Atlantic travel.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss called the milestone a “time for celebration, not rivalry”.

“Together with British Airways we are delighted to mark today’s important milestone, which finally allows consumers and businesses to book travel with confidence. “

British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said: “After more than 600 days of separation, today is our moment to celebrate the UK-US reopening.

“Transatlantic connectivity is vital for the UK’s economic recovery, which is why we’ve been calling for the safe reopening of the UK-US travel corridor for such a long time.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “this historic event marks a significant moment for the aviation sector”.