New routes for the grand reopening

Start waving those stars and stripes, as the United States is finally reopening its borders to UK holidaymakers from Monday, November 8. And to celebrate, airlines are ramping up flights and relaunching a number of routes.

Virgin Atlantic will restart a raft of services on the date that transatlantic travel returns. With Disney World trips back on the menu and a reported surge in demand for Florida holidays, daily flights from Heathrow and Manchester to Orlando will take to the skies. Meanwhile, the north of England’s Big Apple connections will be boosted with the resumption of a daily Manchester to New York service. And for those after a slice of Sin City, a daily flight from Heathrow to Las Vegas will also be back in action.

Meanwhile, British Airways is dramatically increasing its operations across the pond over the coming weeks, with up to eight daily flights to New York expected to be running by December. This will be welcome news for those of us dreaming of Manhattan’s twinkling Christmas trees, and spins on ice-skating rinks

after a rather flat festive period last year.

Overall, the airline is set to fly to 23 US airports this winter, with up to 246 flights a week. This will include twicedaily services to big-hitters Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Dallas and Miami. Daily flights to Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver and Houston will also return. In addition to frequency increases, the carrier will relaunch its suspended services to Austin, Orlando, Tampa, San Diego, Las Vegas and Baltimore. In December, BA will also start flying to the musical cities of Nashville and New Orleans once again, destinations that proved particularly popular pre-pandemic.

Finally, JetBlue will up its new Gatwick to New York flights from four times weekly to daily from the start of November. The budget airline, which will be aiming to fill the void left by the now-terminated no-frills Norwegian services, offers round-trips from as little as £329. However, unlike other lowcost options, economy passengers receive a complimentary meal and alcoholic drinks, plus an amenity kit. Meanwhile, the airline’s premium cabin, Mint, includes lie-flat seats complete with sliding doors for extra privacy.

Before booking flights, do be aware that only fully vaccinated UK travellers will be granted entry to the US, and they will have to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.

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