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Vaccines

US to Ease Travel Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Passengers in November

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The UK Government has confirmed that fully vaccinated travellers from the UK, including those who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, will be able to enter the US once travel restrictions are eased in November. The move is set to boost airlines such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and Heathrow Airport, which have repeatedly blamed the travel ban for limiting the recovery of passenger numbers during the virus crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US will ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers in November, allowing travellers from the UK, including those who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine, to enter the country.
  • The AstraZeneca vaccine, not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be recognised as a valid vaccine due to its approval by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have welcomed the announcement, which they hope will help recover passenger numbers lost during the pandemic.
  • Heathrow Airport has gone from being Europe's busiest airport in 2019 to 10th, with around 3.8 million British nationals visiting the US every year prior to the pandemic.
  • Travellers will need to demonstrate proof of vaccination and a negative test taken within the previous 3 days to enter the US.
  • Airlines will be required to collect contact information from international travellers to facilitate tracing if required.
  • The US-UK task force, agreed at the G7 leaders' meeting in Cornwall in June, has helped expedite the decision to relax border controls.

Statistics:

  • 3.8 million: The number of British nationals who visited the US every year prior to the pandemic, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
  • 18 months: The length of the blanket ban on foreign travellers from entering the US, introduced by former president Donald Trump at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • 11th:** The current ranking of Heathrow Airport, behind cities such as Amsterdam and Paris.

Sources:

  • UK Government
  • White House Covid-19 co-ordinator Jeff Zients
  • British Airways
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Heathrow Airport
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • The Prime Minister's spokesman
  • No 10 Downing Street
  • G7 leaders' meeting in Cornwall, June 2021

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