Germany is ceasing travel restrictions for US residents in the wake of the European Union Council's 18 June recommendation that EU members lift restrictions for residents from the USA, among other countries. The German government's Missions USA website states that Germany is "lifting all travel restrictions" for US residents beginning 20 June. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, proof of recovery from Covid-19 or a negative test result will still be required for entry via air travel. Travellers from the USA will no longer be required to register digitally for entry or quarantine upon arrival in Germany. United Airlines in July intends to operate 645 direct flights connecting the USA with Germany, data shows. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines will each operate 62 flights connecting the two countries. "United Airlines applauds Germany following its decision to reopen to vaccinated or tested US tourists," the Chicago-based carrier states. "United offers more flights to Germany than any other US airline, and is the only US airline currently serving Munich."

The Council of the European Union has added the USA to its list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
Twelve other countries, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, are on the list disclosed by the EU on 18 June. China will be added to the list "subject to confirmation of reciprocity". "Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 18 June 2021 member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the countries that have been added to the list," the EU states. It is up to individual EU member states to implement the Council's recommendation, which is not a legally binding instrument. Portugal's government on 15 June eased restrictions for travellers arriving from the USA, enabling them to bypass a quarantine period if they have proof of a negative test for Covid-19. France on 9 June began permitting US travellers to bypass quarantine requirements if they could provide proof that they are fully vaccinated with a European Medicines Agency-approved vaccine and can present negative results of a Covid-19 test.

Passengers travelling to EU countries who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 should not be subject to testing or quarantine measures, according to updated guidelines issued today by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In a new version of the Aviation Health Safety Protocol, EASA and the ECDC propose that people who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 180 days should be exempt from testing and self-isolation, unless they are travelling from an area of very high risk or from a country in which a "variant of concern" is circulating. In these circumstances, the requirement for a negative test should be considered, say the new guidelines, although this could take the form of either a rapid antigen test taken up to 48h before arrival or a PCR test taken up to 72h prior to travel. "We have reached a significant milestone in the pandemic: a real change in approach that can allow travellers to fly again without worrying excessively that the rules may change at short notice, complicating their journey or making it impossible," says EASA executive director Patrick Ky. "Thanks to the expert epidemiological input from ECDC we are confident that this protocol offers practical and pragmatic guidelines for health-safe travel." While the recommendations are non-binding for EU member states, EASA says it is hoped that countries across Europe will adopt the recommendations "to ensure harmonisation and the safe recovery of the air transport and tourism sector". Aviation industry groups have welcomed the move and are calling on EU member states to adopt the updated guidance. In a joint statement, six organisations including IATA, Airlines for Europe and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), say: "Following successful vaccination programmes across Europe and an improved epidemiological outlook, these updated guidelines are very timely and will help to ensure a smooth and safe passenger journey. We are counting on EU member states to now play their part and update the existing measures accordingly, so that passengers know what to expect. This is crucially important for restoring passenger confidence and to help our sector’s recovery."