Assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz confirmed the date in a tweet shortly before 2pm on Friday (15 October) after press reports citing the 8 November date.

It comes after US president Joe Biden said on 20 September the US would reopen to international arrivals after an 18-month travel ban in early November.

"The US’s new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travellers to the United States will begin on 8 November," said Munoz.

"This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss said the confirmation would allow consumers and businesses to book travel with confidence.

"The US has been our heartland for more than 37 years and we are simply not Virgin without the Atlantic," said Weiss. "We’ve been steadily ramping up flying to destinations such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we can’t wait to fly our customers safely to their favourite US cities, on holiday or to reconnect with friends, loved ones and colleagues."

Weiss added the reopening of the transatlantic corridor reflected the "great progress" made by the UK and US in their respective vaccine roll-outs.
 
"The UK will now be able to strengthen ties with our most important economic partner, the US, boosting trade and tourism as well as reuniting friends, families and business colleagues," he added.