air travel

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president's chief science adviser on pandemic response, says such a requirement might drive up the lagging U.S. vaccination rate as well as confer stronger protection on flights.

The rapid emergence of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has many questioning whether they should rethink their holiday travel plans.

President Joe Biden has extended mask requirements and imposed new travel restrictions on international travelers as the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads.

Starting Monday, the U.S. begins accepting fully vaccinated travelers at airports and land borders, doing away with a COVID-19 restriction that dates back to the Trump administration.

The requirements set by the Biden administration take effect Nov. 8 and cover approved vaccines, exceptions for the unvaccinated and protocols after arrival.

The airline says 99% of its U.S. workforce has either gotten the shots or applied for religious or medical exemptions, while fewer than 600 employees will be fired for refusing to comply.

The White House says fully vaccinated international travelers will have to present proof of vaccination and get tested before flying. The policy is slated to take effect in November.

Biden says, "If you break the rules, be prepared to pay." He calls the harassment aimed at airline employees over masks "wrong" and "ugly."

The August decline at Tampa International follows a strong summer that saw a rebound in air travel. Meantime, Orlando International expects an increase in traffic from last year's Labor Day holiday.

Two federal agencies issued the highest warning to Americans against traveling to the United Kingdom and four other countries due to rising COVID-19 cases.