US Lifted UK and EU Travel Ban from November

The United States has indicated that limitations on travel from the United Kingdom and the European Union will be lifted beginning in early November.

Fully vaccinated passengers must show confirmation of vaccination as well as a negative Covid-19 test done within three days before departure before boarding.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had planned to bring up the issue in a meeting with President Joe Biden on Tuesday, but that meeting will no longer be necessary now that White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients has confirmed the softening.

On Twitter, Johnson said: “I am delighted that from November, @POTUS is reinstating transatlantic travel so fully vaccinated UK nationals can visit the USA. It’s a fantastic boost for business and trade, and great that family and friends on both sides of the pond can be reunited once again.”

Following expectations that the news will be made on Monday afternoon, airline stocks soared.

Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive, Shai Weiss, said: “The US government’s announcement that fully vaccinated UK visitors will be able to enter the US from November is a major milestone to the reopening of travel at scale, allowing consumers and businesses to book travel to the US with confidence.

“As the UK forges its recovery from the pandemic, the reopening of the transatlantic corridor and the lifting of Presidential Order 212F acknowledges the great progress both nations have made in rolling out successful vaccine programmes.”

The WTTC’s president and chief executive, Julia Simpson, said: “The prospect of the US lifting travel restrictions to restore transatlantic travel between the UK and US is welcome news – not just for hard-pressed airlines but for the wider travel & tourism sector, which has been decimated by Covid-19.

“It will finally enable families to reunite, business travellers to resume face-to-face meetings and for travel & tourism to return for Brits looking to travel to America. The UK alone represents 8% of all inbound travel to the US, accounting for US$ 40 million per day to the nation’s economy.

“WTTC has long-been calling for the U.S. to reopen and our research shows that by opening its borders to key markets such as the UK, it will pump US$198 million back into the US economy every single day.

“WTTC strongly advocates for fully-vaccinated travellers to be able to travel freely and safely, and for unvaccinated travellers to be able to do so with testing, alongside enhanced health and safety protocols.”