Parallel take-off from London Heathrow to New York! After 600 days of restrictions, US borders have been opened!

Today, November 8, The United States has reopened its borders for tourism purposes for vaccinated Europeans. After 600 days of strict restrictions, the US opens its borders for fully vaccinated passengers from several European countries, but also from the United Kingdom. Enthusiastically, the passengers stormed the flights between Europe and the United States. It is a relief for passengers and airlines.

To mark the occasion, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, two rival British airlines on transatlantic voyages, celebrated this moment together with a parallel take-off from London.

The Airbus A350-1000 Virgin Atlantic (flight VS3 - plane G-VJAM) and British Airways (flight BA1 - plane G-XWBG) took off from London Heathrow (LHR) at 0830 local time, heading to New York JFK. The British Airways aircraft took off from runway 27R, while the Virgin aircraft took off from runway 27L. 

According to Reuters, United Airlines expects the number of passengers on international flights to increase by 50%, while Delta Airlines chief executive Ed Bastian said passengers would face longer queues for checks and boarding at airports.