A potential air corridor between London and New York could allow Brits to travel to the city without having to quarantine when they return.
Top-level talks between governments on both sides of the pond are said to be at an early stage.
If it gets the go-ahead, the rest of US will remain on the UK’s ‘red-list’ as the country suffers the highest number of coronavirus deaths and infections in the world.
An air bridge to the Big Apple would be Britain’s first ‘regional travel corridor’ and would be a godsend for airlines who depend on trans-Atlantic travel.
A source told the Telegraph: ‘There are discussions going on at a very senior level around opening up London and New York.
‘They are at a very early stage but it is vital to get business going with a major trading partner especially as we near Brexit.’
Once the coronavirus hotspot of the US, the cumulative number of cases over seven days in New York is now at 7.2 per 100,000 residents.
This is lower than the UK on 11.3 and below the Government’s quarantine threshold of 20.
Paul Charles, of travel consultancy The PC Agency said he understood talks were taken place to create corridors between Heathrow and New York, which he said is the world’s most popular air route.
He added: ‘However, I understand that US authorities want to see firm testing taking place at Heathrow.
‘It would send a strong signal if this vital route was to open again, and would build confidence for long-haul travel. It is one of the best things this Government could do for the airline industry.’
Last week Heathrow Airport said a testing area was ready to open should Britain approve a rule change allowing a test on arrival and one some days later in order to cut quarantine times.
The Government is facing calls to scrap quarantine rules and to instead test new arrivals at airports (Picture: SOPA/LightRocket)
While the Government is looking at the possibility of swab tests at the airport, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has warned they could fail to pick up around 90% of asymptomatic cases.
He told the BBC: ‘It’s not quite as simple as the way it’s been presented. But we do review these things constantly… it’s just that I don’t want to sort of offer false hope.’
But a group of 80 MPs including 40 Tories have written to Boris Johnson calling for him to end quarantine measures and to roll out testing to save the aviation industry and the wider economy.
The Future of Aviation Group warned the UK is at risk of falling behind more than 30 countries including Germany, who have already introduced testing to help make travel easier.
Aviation bosses including Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye warned the self-isolation requirement is costing the economy £60million a day as fewer visitors spend their money in the country.
‘Tens of thousands of jobs are being lost because Britain remains cut off from critical markets such as the US, Canada and Singapore.
‘The Government can save jobs by introducing testing to cut quarantine from higher-risk countries, while keeping the public safe from a second wave of Covid.’