Travel stocks surged on Monday afternoon as it emerged that vaccinated passengers will be able to travel to the US from the EU and UK from November onwards.
As things stand, only US citizens, their families, green card holders and those with national interest exemptions can enter the US.
However, according to the Financial Times, the White House is set to announce a new travel policy, marking the end of the 18-month blanket ban on travel imposed by former US President Donald Trump at the start of the pandemic.
The FT cited three people with knowledge of the policy as saying that Monday’s announcement will mean that fully jabbed passengers will be able to travel once the ban is lifted within weeks. Those involved in clinical trials for vaccines that are not yet approved in the UK will also be allowed to enter the US, a policy which will apply to around 40,000 people, the FT said.
Shares of British Airways and Iberia parent IAG surged to the top of the FTSE 100 index and by 1500 BST were trading up 11% at 165.80p. Engine maker Roll-Royce was 4.3% higher at 115.81p, while budget airline easyJet was 2/3% firmer at 644.80p. SSP, which operates food and beverage outlets at airports, saw its shares rise 6% to 282.30p.
