Virgin Atlantic, meanwhile, has sealed a partnership for another source of non-kerosene fuel, this time from waste plastic.

Closer to home, there is good news from Ireland, with the country’s travel trade reporting a bookings boom.

Here are the main travel headlines making national news on Tuesday 15 February.

Wizz Air applies for transatlantic licence

The budget airline Wizz Air is planning its first transatlantic flights. The carrier has made an application to Washington for an “initial foreign air carrier permit”. Wizz said the licence was being sought solely to begin a cargo operation for the Hungarian government with a single wide body aircraft. (The Telegraph)

Irish agents report bookings boom

Travel agents in Ireland have said trips abroad will become more expensive as bookings near pre-pandemic levels this summer. Paul Hackett, Click&Go chief executive, said bookings had “surged” and were currently 75% of levels in January and February 2019. Hackett said an increase in price could be expected. (The Times)

Vietnam to ease Covid restrictions 

Vietnam is to allow the number and frequency of international passenger flights to be restored to pre-pandemic levels from today, the state-run newspaper has reported. The country had already started resuming international flights with 15 markets from the beginning of this year but vaccinated passengers need three days of self-isolation. (Sky News)

Virgin Atlantic to use fuel from plastic waste

Virgin Atlantic is set to adopt a new, lower carbon fuel that has been converted from waste plastics as part of a partnership with chemical conversion technology firm Agilyx. Virgin Group and Agilyx aim to reuse plastic waste to produce synthetic crude oil that will then be refined into a lower carbon fuel. (City AM)