Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) this week said it welcomed the Biden Administration’s plan to reopen U.S. borders to foreign nationals and the easing of international travel restrictions into the U.S. beginning November 8.
“ACI-NA has long called for the U.S. government to implement a plan to safely reopen our borders to international passenger traffic,” said Kevin Burke, ACI-NA president and CEO. “Ensuring the health, safety, and security of the traveling public and airport workers is our top priority, and today’s announcement by the Biden Administration is welcome news to help provide for the seamless, safe, and secure reopening of our borders.”
Starting on November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S., with only limited exceptions.
The updated travel guidelines from the White House also include new protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure.
Burke added that ACI-NA will work with industry stakeholders in the coming weeks to meet the complex challenges that will arise as international air travel resumes.
