Airline execs optimistic about recovery of US-Asia travel

Airline executives are confident that demand for flights between the US and Asia will bounce back quickly once travel restrictions are eased, citing the flood of bookings that followed the US government’s announcement about allowing vaccinated international travelers to enter the country. “I am confident that once Asia reopens we’ll see a similar dynamic,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines, adding that he expects Alaska’s codeshare partner, American Airlines, to launch its planned new routes from Seattle to China and India next year. “The demand will come back,” he said.