US travel ban is LIFTED allowing Florida holidays this winter for vaccinated Brits
HOLIDAYS to the US will be back on within weeks, with double jabbed visitors from the UK and the EU allowed back in from November.
All foreign travellers will need to demonstrate proof of vaccination before boarding, as well as proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of flight.
Fully vaccinated passengers will not be required to quarantine, according to White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.
The announcement came ahead of talks between Boris Johnson and Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday.
Mr Johnson had been furiously lobbying for the restrictions behind the scenes – branding them senseless.
Speaking on his way to New York, Mr Johnson said “we think the case is overwhelming” for the US borders to be reopened to the double jabbed.
US travellers have been able to visit Britain since July, but America had not returned the favour, with BoJo claiming: I don’t think it makes sense.”
However the speed of the White House announcement appears to have caught the PM off guard, as he told reporters on Sunday night: “I don’t think we’re necessarily going to crack it this week. I’ve got to warn you I don’t think this is going to be necessarily fixed this week.”
The news means a trip to Florida – popular with Brits due to both Disney World and Universal Orlando – or to New York could go ahead again this year.
There has been speculation about a lifting of the US ban for several months now, with the Prime Minister reportedly pushing for a travel corridor between the two countries back in June, at the G7 summit.
The UK has been on the US travel ban list since March 2020, with exemptions solely for US citizens and permanent residents, certain close family members and other limited categories of visa holders like diplomats and UN staff.
Before the outbreak of coronavirus, the UK-US air corridor was one of the busiest in the world.
More than five million people from the UK visited the US every year, with 4.5 million trips made in the reverse direction.
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Airlines including Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have been pushing for a travel corridor between the UK and the US, citing the strong vaccine rollout in both countries.
British Airways has already been increasing their flight schedule between the US and the UK, with New York to London flights up from 17 per week to 21 per week.
The news comes days after it was announced that both the amber list and expensive PCR tests are being SCRAPPED in the biggest travel boost of the pandemic so far.
In a huge win for holidaymakers, ministers are also shrinking the red list – with Turkey and Egypt among those declared Covid safe.
Double-jabbed passengers will no longer have to take annoying pre-departure tests or pricey PCR tests on day 2 of their return to the UK.
Grant Shapps took an axe to the costly and complex travel rules as he vowed to end the bureaucracy proving a nightmare for holidaymakers.
The Transport Secretary said the changes are locked in until the New Year – meaning Christmas breaks are safe.
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