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 The extraordinary U.S. travel restrictions, first imposed in early
2020, had barred access to non-U.S. citizens travelling from 33
countries - including China, India and much of Europe - and had also
restricted overland entry from Mexico and Canada.
From Monday, travellers who can show official proof of vaccination
against COVID-19 and have had a recent, negative viral test can
again fly to the United States.
"Really, really exciting. I mean, I was meant to go just before
COVID happened, and obviously it's been delayed this long, so it's
really exciting to finally be able to go," Alice Keane, travelling
to Miami to see her sister, said at London's Heathrow airport.
The unprecedented travel ban, first imposed by the Trump
administration, has dealt a huge blow to tourism but has also kept
loved ones from attending weddings, funerals, or meeting new babies.
"I think we might just start crying," said Bindiya Patel, who was
going to see her young nephew in New York for the first time. "We've
been facetiming the whole year. But, you know, to actually see
(them) in person..." said her mother, Bhavna Patel, delighted about
getting to meet her grandson for the first time.
Long-term rivals British Airways and Virgin Atlantic carried out a
simultaneous take-off from London's Heathrow parallel runways just
before 0900 GMT.
The flights are full, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said, while
passenger volume is expected to remain high in the coming weeks with
the approach of Thanksgiving and winter holidays.
'FINALLY!'
Travellers were equally excited in Paris, which has also seen a huge
increase in bookings.
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 "Very happy," Michel Valente,
travelling from Paris's Charles de Gaulle
airport with his wife, relieved that he would
finally see his family in the United States in
person rather than via video calls.
For Paul Fuchs, it was about the chance to do
some tourism again and travel to Disney World.
"Finally the opportunity to go back to the U.S!,"
he said.
Airlines, which have warned of long queues at
first, will check vaccination documentation for
international travellers as they already do for
COVID-19 test results. U.S. land
borders are also reopening to non-essential travel, though differing
rules over coronavirus vaccines threaten to hold up some family
reunions for people seeking to cross the 2,000 mile (3,200 km)
border with Mexico.
The prospect of easing restrictions has also encouraged migrants to
try their luck seeking U.S. asylum, posing a new test for President
Joe Biden's administration.
At the land border crossings from Mexico and Canada, U.S. Customs
and Border Protection will ask travellers if they have been
vaccinated and will spot-check some documentation.
Under-18s are exempt from the new vaccine requirements. Non-tourist
travellers from nearly 50 countries with nationwide vaccination
rates of less than 10% are also eligible for exemption.
(Reporting by Tara Oakes, Stuart McDill, Sarah Young, Antony Paone,
David Shepardson; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Gareth
Jones)
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