Former BA boss Willie Walsh slams Boris Johnson and Joe Biden for 'cowardly' delays in easing Covid travel restrictions 

  • Former British Airways boss Willie Walsh criticised the UK and US governments
  • Mr Walsh is now the head of the International Air Transport Association
  • He said the establishment of a task force was a 'cowardly political move'  

The former boss of British Airways last night denounced Boris Johnson and Joe Biden for ‘cowardly’ delays to easing coronavirus travel restrictions.

Willie Walsh, who now leads industry body the International Air Transport Association, accused the Prime Minister and US President of dragging their heels over the re-opening of transatlantic routes.

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The aviation supremo poured scorn on the two leaders’ new Atlantic Charter which will set up a taskforce to examine reopening UK-US air travel.

Former British Airways boss Willie Walsh, pictured, condemned British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden for their failure to reopen trans Atlantic travel
The airline industry hoped Mr Johnson and Mr Biden would announce a loosening of travel restrictions imposed due to Covid-19

But Mr Walsh said their deal was a pale imitation of its namesake wartime agreement between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.

‘It’s a transparently cowardly political move to “kick the can down the road”,’ Mr Walsh said. ‘Roosevelt and Churchill... would be appalled that their 1941 vision is being associated with such a cautious approach.’

The Irish businessman also urged the heads of state to ‘show some real leadership’ and called on the G7 Summit to announce that July 4 will be a ‘real Independence Day’.

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