The proof of vaccination will be the requirement that allows citizens of 33 countries to fly back to North American territory
It has been 18 months or almost 600 days since the night of March 2020 when Donald Trump announced by surprise the cancellation of all flights to Europe. The news unleashed scenes of chaos at airports, as the US government gave its citizens two days to return home.
Those agglomerations would later be revealed as the origin of some of the worst outbreaks of covid-19. As the days went by, the federal Executive backed down and also allowed the free flow of citizens and residents with negative PCR, but it was not until this Monday that tourists, those who travel simply, without having to justify work or family reasons, returned to land at the main airports in the country.
The news had already been announced more than a month ago, so the orderly return of citizens from 33 countries, including the European Union, contrasts with the chaotic closure. The first flights departed this Monday from London, where relatives who have not been seen in a year and a half told the cameras with tears in their eyes. There were grandchildren so young that in two years they have forgotten their grandparents, and children who have not seen their parents buried.
One of the toughest human chapters of the pandemic was coming to an end, although the airlines do not trust it. Although the number of reservations soared in the days after the announcement, the number of available places did not increase in parallel. Many companies were still in the last hours without a daily flight, which had triggered the prices of tickets for Christmas by more than $ 5,000 per person in tourist class.
Brazil, still banned
American Airlines, its partner in the One World alliance, saw a 66% increase in bookings for flights from London and a 40% increase for those from the European Union, the company said. The Brazilians turned out to be the most desperate. The only country in Latin America that had the entry banned due to its high rate of covid-19 infections had not been able to do “vaccine tourism” and as soon as the ban was opened, the reserves between Brazil and the United States soared by 70%.
However, only vaccinated passengers who present the original of their vaccination card and a negative covid-19 test taken in the previous 72 hours will be able to take advantage of the opportunity. The United States has even tightened the nuts a bit more on its unvaccinated residents, whose window for testing is now shortened to 24 hours before boarding the plane.
In New York, where 66 million travelers a year arrived before the pandemic, merchants awaited them with open arms. Although national tourism has filled the gap left by internationals, 88% of foreigners use the visit to go shopping, compared to 30% of nationals.
“Air traffic is good for business and for people to meet,” observed Angel Moreno, a Spanish owner of the oldest organic and vegan restaurant in New York, Caravan of Dreams, “but it’s bad for the pollution of the planet.” alerted.
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