The United States on Monday ended a pandemic travel ban that was in place for more than a year and a half, a relief for the tourism industry and for families that have been separated by the rules since the crisis began.
At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, passengers who arrived from London on British Airways Flight 1, the same number used for the Concorde, were greeted by applause of airline employees and balloons.
Some business travelers said they are ready to ditch the video calls for in-person meetings and work.
“We’ve been desperate for two years to get out and see our staff,” said Giles English, co-founder of luxury watchmaker Bremont, which has a store in Midtown Manhattan.
English told CNBC shortly after arriving at JFK on British Airways Flight 1 that video technology is “amazing but I think face-to-face is so important.”
Katherine Donnelly, 52, of London, who flew in on that flight said she hasn’t been in New York for more than two years and that she’s eager to visit her aunt, who has been ill.
“I can’t wait to see her,” she said.
The ban, put in place by then-President Donald Trump in early 2020 and later expanded by President Joe Biden early this year, prohibited visitors from 33 countries, including the U.K., much of Europe, China, Brazil and South Africa.
Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/08/covid-vaccine-us-ends-international-travel-ban-opens-door-to-vaccinated-tourists.html
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