Transatlantic: US-UK taskforce is established

Greater Birmingham Transatlantic

Chamber of Commerce

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Mandy Haque T: 0121 725 8994

US-UK taskforce is established

By Jessica Brookes

President Joe Biden

A US-UK taskforce has been established to review how “safe and sustainable” transatlantic travel may resume between the two countries.

The agreement was set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Joe Biden under the new Atlantic Charter, on the eve of the G7 Summit, which was held in Cornwall.

The Charter is modelled on a joint agreement devised by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, which set out their goals after the Second World War.

In a joint statement released by the two world leaders, Johnson and Biden said that they look forward to “normalising two-way travel” between the two countries, and the taskforce will share “expertise and provide recommendations to leaders on the return of safe and sustainable international travel”.

Currently, the US is listed as an ‘amber’ destination by the British Foreign Office, whereby travellers arriving from the country must self-isolate for 10 days on their arrival into the UK.

A presidential decree imposed last year mandated that non-US citizens who have travelled or been in the UK in the last 14 days are not permitted to enter the country.

As well as establishing a new travel taskforce, the Charter also committed the countries to working together on defending democracy, furthering bilateral defense and security, strengthening its economic and trading ties, rallying all countries to bolster climate ambitions and reaffirming their commitment to Northern Ireland.

Under the framework of the revitalised Charter, the UK and US have agreed to develop a landmark science and technology partnership.

The partnership will explore a number of areas for cooperation including research, innovation and commercialisation, defence, security, law enforcement and intelligence; and making sure technology is used as a force for good around the world.

Digital Secretary, Oliver Dowden said: “In the 80 years since the Atlantic Charter was signed, technology has changed the world beyond recognition.

“This announcement marks a new era of cooperation with our closest ally, in which we commit to using technology to create prosperity and guarantee the safety and security of our citizens for years to come.”

Presidential Science Adviser and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Eric Lander, said: “There are few relationships as consequential as the transatlantic partnership between the United States and United Kingdom in science and technology.

“Together, we will seek to set a positive example of how countries can work together to solve the critical and transnational challenges of the 21st Century.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

United add supersonic speeds with new aircraft

United Airlines has reached an agreement with Boom Supersonic to purchase 15 planes capable of travelling at twice the speed of modern airliners.

The Overture aircraft will be able to fly at Mach 1.7 (1,300mph), potentially halving the transatlantic journey from Newark to London to three and a half hours.

Trial flights are scheduled to begin in 2026, with commercial use coming three years later.

United also has an option on an additional 35 planes from the Denver-based manufacturer. The initial order will be finalised once the aircraft meet “demanding safety, operating and sustainability requirements”.

The Overture will carry fewer passengers than existing subsonic passenger jets, with 65 to 88 seats which will initially be priced at business class fares. The firms say Overture will be the first large commercial aircraft to be netzero carbon from day one, optimized to run on 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

United CEO Scott Kirby said: “United continues on its trajectory to build a more innovative, sustainable airline and today's advancements in technology are making it more viable for that to include supersonic planes. Boom's vision for the future of commercial aviation, combined with the industry's most robust route network in the world, will give business and leisure travellers access to a stellar flight experience.

“Our mission has always been about connecting people and now working with Boom, we'll be able to do that on an even greater scale.”

Blake Scholl, Boom Supersonic founder and CEO, said: “The world's first purchase agreement for net-zero carbon supersonic aircraft marks a significant step toward our mission to create a more accessible world.

“United and Boom share a common purpose - to unite the world safely and sustainably.”