Double take off at Heathrow as 'excited' passengers take advantage of US reopening borders to UK travellers

Thousands of people will jet off on transatlantic flights for long-awaited reunions bringing to an end restrictions which were introduced nearly two years ago.

By Megan Baynes and Ian Sale, news reporters

Monday 8 November 2021 23:22, UK

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Double take off for the double jabbed to the US
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Rival airlines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have operated a synchronised departure from Heathrow to celebrate the end of the US travel ban for fully vaccinated passengers from the UK.

"Excited" travellers queued to check in at the airport after the lifting of the travel ban brought an end to almost two years of coronavirus restrictions on incoming travellers to the US.

The two flights took off from parallel runways at the airport in west London on Monday morning before heading to JFK in New York.

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Tearful reunions after travel ban lifted

Thousands of travellers will now be able to jet off on transatlantic flights for long-awaited reunions with family and friends.

Alice Keane, who was travelling to Miami to see her sister, said at Heathrow: "Really, really exciting.

"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."

Bindiya Patel, who was going to see her young nephew in New York for the first time, said: "I think we might just start crying. We're really excited."

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Performers engage with travellers as they queue to check into Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines flights at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, following the lifting of restrictions on the entry of non-U.S. citizens to the United States imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image: Performers engage with travellers as they queue to check in

Christian Marcelia, 26, said he was "excited and a bit nervous" to be flying to New York to visit his girlfriend and her family.

He said: "My girlfriend lives over there, so we've been sort of long distance for two years. I'm going there to meet her family for the first time."

The US lifted restrictions from a long list of countries, including Canada and Mexico - while travellers from the EU have also been boarding flights to the US with a large number of bookings being reported in nations such as France.

"We went from zero activity to one that is similar to October 2019 levels, so before COVID," said Jerome Thomann, of Paris-based Jetset Voyages travel agency, which specialises in trips to North America.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it was a "significant moment" as transatlantic travel has "long been at the heart of UK aviation".

It is the end of restrictions first imposed by former President Donald Trump at the start of the pandemic, which saw visitors banned from dozens of countries.

People queue to check into Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines flights at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, following the lifting of restrictions on the entry of non-U.S. citizens to the United States imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image: People queue up at Heathrow to check in for transatlantic flights

However, travellers must be fully jabbed and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of entering the country.

Airlines have ramped up flights to meet demand, with 2,688 scheduled to operate between the UK and US this month.

This is up 21% compared to October but down 49% on pre-pandemic levels of November 2019.

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As the US border reopened to UK nationals after more than 600 days, the only people at Heathrow with wider smiles than the passengers were the airline executives.

At Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways suspended decades of competition to mark the moment with simultaneous departures of their first New York flights, a sign of the importance of the moment to an entire industry.

The closure of the transatlantic corridor between Europe and the US since March 2020 has been the hardest of all blows to aviation, and its return signalled a turning point in the industry's recovery.

"Today is a very special milestone," said Sean Doyle, chief executive of British Airways, whose parent company is forecasting a €3bn loss this year.

"Today is a very special milestone," said Sean Doyle, chief executive of British Airways, whose parent company is forecasting a €3bn loss this year.

Shai Weiss, his counterpart at Virgin Atlantic which runs 60% of its routes to the US, was similarly relieved.

"Today we got to see some amazing stories, the grandparents flying to see grandchildren they’ve not met yet, people going for birthdays and family reunions, and businesses being able to reconnect," he said. "This is the tipping point for Virgin Atlantic and aviation in the UK at large."

There was no doubting the demand among passengers heading for family reunions and long-delayed Orlando holidays and honeymoons. BA and Virgin say all flights in the coming days are full and they expect sustained demand for leisure travel.

Less certain are the prospects for business travel and the sale of premium seats that the industry estimates account for 30% of revenue.

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British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said the reopening of the US borders was a "moment to celebrate" after "more than 600 days of separation".

He went on: "Transatlantic connectivity is vital for the UK's economic recovery, which is why we've been calling for the safe reopening of the UK-US travel corridor for such a long time."

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September: Minister cautious over travel easing

His counterpart at Virgin Atlantic, Shai Weiss, said: "The US has been our heartland for more than 37 years and we are simply not Virgin without the Atlantic.

"We've been steadily ramping up flying to destinations including Boston, New York, Orlando, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we can't wait to fly our customers safely to their favourite US cities to reconnect with loved ones and colleagues."

A performer juggles as he engages with travellers while they queue to check into Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines flights at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, following the lifting of restrictions on the entry of non-U.S. citizens to the United States imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image: A performer juggles as travellers watch on in Terminal 3

Entry requirements

Passengers must be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Accepted vaccines are: AstraZeneca, BIBP/Sinopharm, Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac.

People who received a full series of a vaccine - not a placebo - during trials for AstraZeneca or Novavax are also considered vaccinated.

The US will accept the NHS COVID-19 pass as sufficient proof.

Travellers must have a negative COVID-19 test within three days of their flight departure.

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The only exceptions to the vaccination requirements are US citizens, US nationals, US lawful permanent residents and children under the age of 18.

Exempt passengers must show a negative coronavirus test taken one day prior, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months.

Performers engage with travellers as they queue to check into Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines flights at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, following the lifting of restrictions on the entry of non-U.S. citizens to the United States imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London, Britain, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Image: Travel restrictions on incoming passengers were imposed in the US nearly two years ago

After entering the US

Fully vaccinated travellers do not have to quarantine, but they are recommended to take a test within the first three to five days of arrival - unless they have documentation showing they have recovered from the virus within the last three months.

Children are also exempt from quarantine but must take a test within three to five days.

Those allowed to enter the US unvaccinated must take a test within three to five days and self-quarantine for seven days after arrival.

Anyone staying longer than 60 days must become fully vaccinated unless medically exempt or too young.

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