Mnuchin: ‘Too hard to tell’ when regular international flights will resume

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Monday it’s too early to say when pre-coronavirus levels of international travel will resume for the airline industry.

“Too hard to tell at this point,” Mnuchin said in a Fox Business interview when asked if international travel will be “opened up” this year.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the airlines. International travel has been particularly hard hit as countries impose their own travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus.

President Trump limited travel from China early on, and later imposed related restrictions for the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Mnuchin did not mention specific countries or regions in his remarks, but he said certain exceptions will be made once foreign travel starts to open up.

“For businesspeople who need to travel, there will be travel on a limited basis,” he said.

Regarding domestic flights, Mnuchin said, “As the economy opens up, I think you’ll see demand coming back.”

Mnuchin added that more government assistance could be needed for the travel and restaurant industries and that the Trump administration is eyeing ways to boost both.