LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Joe Biden’s decision to open U.S. borders for vaccinated foreign travellers is long overdue but, for European airlines at least, perfectly timed read more . Hit on Sunday by news of a 2.1 billion euro rights issue, Deutsche Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) shareholders suddenly have something positive to latch on to. The German carrier’s shares jumped 6%. British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) (ICAG.L) soared 10%. That’s a relief to Chief Executive Luis Gallego, who at the weekend promised he wouldn’t need to raise fresh capital. With U.S. skies opening up from November, the recovery in transatlantic travel should pick up speed. Even though European countries admitted vaccinated U.S. tourists over the summer, roughly 60% of transatlantic traffic starts on the eastern side of the pond. Yet business travel may have taken a permanent hit, with executives preferring Zoom for all but the most high-level appointments. IAG stock is still down 60% from pre-Covid levels, suggesting a return to normal is still way off. (By Ed Cropley) On Twitter http://twitter.com/breakingviews Capital Calls - More concise insights on global finance: LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Joe Biden’s decision to open U.S. borders for vaccinated foreign travellers is long overdue but, for European airlines at least, perfectly timed read more . Hit on Sunday by news of a 2.1 billion euro rights issue, Deutsche Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) shareholders suddenly have something positive to latch on to. The German carrier’s shares jumped 6%. British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) (ICAG.L) soared 10%. That’s a relief to Chief Executive Luis Gallego, who at the weekend promised he wouldn’t need to raise fresh capital. With U.S. skies opening up from November, the recovery in transatlantic travel should pick up speed. Even though European countries admitted vaccinated U.S. tourists over the summer, roughly 60% of transatlantic traffic starts on the eastern side of the pond. Yet business travel may have taken a permanent hit, with executives preferring Zoom for all but the most high-level appointments. IAG stock is still down 60% from pre-Covid levels, suggesting a return to normal is still way off. (By Ed Cropley) On Twitter http://twitter.com/breakingviews Capital Calls - More concise insights on global finance: Vaccines for kids could help labor read more British Airways crosses recovery fingers tighter read more Beijing steers around Biden’s nuclear subs Fridge deal portends peak camping read moreFlavourings boom will drive more deals read more