Sep. 22—Canadian airline Air Transat said Tuesday it will restart flying nonstop twice weekly between Montreal and New Orleans on Nov. 4.
The announcement came one day after President Joe Biden administration's lifted a series of complicated COVID-19 rules that had aimed to restrict non-citizens from flying into the United States. Now foreign visitors must prove vaccination before boarding and provide a negative result on a COVID-19 taken at most three days before the flight. Foreign children ineligible for vaccination will be admitted, with their testing requirements yet to be announced.
U.S. citizens returning from a foreign country must be vaccinated and show proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure. Non-vaccinated U.S. citizens must show results of a negative test within one day before their flight and after they arrive home. However, the federal government has not yet explained how they will test upon return.
The Biden administration's changes to travel procedures come amidst sweeping vaccine mandates for U.S. citizens. Barely 50% of Louisiana's population has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The state ranks 38th in the country for percentage of vaccines administered.
Air Transat's initial schedule shows one flight in each direction between New Orleans and Montreal on Thursdays and Sundays.
Louis Armstrong International Airport announced its excitement to receive flights from the Canadian "City of Saints:"
Air Transat suspended flights from New Orleans in March 2020.
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