US travel ban could continue until November

The US could keep its borders closed off to UK and European visitors until after Thanksgiving in November.

This is the pessimistic view of airline industry leaders as airlines contemplate shrinking transatlantic flight schedules ahead of the winter season.

The Telegraph reports one major airline will push back plans to launch scheduled services from London to New York until November, while another expects the leisure transatlantic travel ban to continue beyond next month.

The continued border closure would likely affect most other countries too.

Airlines had been expecting the US to ease travel rules from next month but the Delta surge in the US and overseas has US officials worried.

Airlines and other travel groups have been pushing the Biden Administration for a reopening date but earlier optimism of it happening seems to be fading.

The White House had said it was actively looking at ways to reopen borders to EU and UK citizens even if only for fully vaccinated travellers.

Both the UK and EU have unilaterally allowed entry for vaccinated Americans.