The United States has begun admitting air travellers from Ireland and several dozen other countries who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Restrictions, introduced 20 months ago in the early stage of the pandemic by then US President Donald Trump, had barred non-US citizens who were in Ireland and the other countries over the past 14 days.
This latest development will mean that family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic will be able to reunite again. It is also expected to bring a welcome boost to airlines, including Aer Lingus, that are highly dependent on transatlantic traffic.
Last week, Aer Lingus Chief Executive Lynne Embleton said every seat on its flights to the US today had been sold. The airline's chief operating officer