The United States has opened its borders to travellers from a host of new countries following nearly two years of closures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As well as the UK, the travel ban is being lifted for people from Brazil, China, India, Ireland, South Africa, Iran and the Schengen countries – a group of 26 European nations.
The border reopened at 05:01 GMT this morning and the first flights took off from Heathrow at 08:30.