Broadway dancers and actors perform during a pop-up performance in Times Square to commemorate a year since theaters on Broadway were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic in New York on March 12. Photos: AFP

The US announced Monday it will lift COVID-19 travel bans on all air passengers in November if they are fully vaccinated and undergo testing and contact tracing.

The unprecedented restrictions had kept relatives, friends and business travelers around the world separated for many months as the pandemic grinds on. Jeffrey Zients, coronavirus response coordinator for President Joe Biden, told reporters the new "consistent approach" would take effect in "early November."

The easing of travel restrictions, imposed by Donald Trump 18 months ago as the COVID-19 pandemic first erupted, marks a significant shift by Biden and answers a major demand from European allies at a time of strained diplomatic relations.

Numerous safeguards will remain in place to suppress spread of the virus, which has already killed more than 675,000 Americans and is resurgent after what many had hoped was a lasting dip earlier in 2021. "Most importantly, foreign nationals flying to the US will be required to be fully vaccinated," Zients said.

Restrictions on vehicle movement from Canada and Mexico will remain in place.

Zients said passengers will need to show they were fully vaccinated before boarding planes bound for the US, as well as providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days.

Americans not fully vaccinated will still be able to enter, but only on testing negative within a day of travel.

Masks will be obligatory on US-bound flights, and airlines will provide the US health authorities with contact tracing information.

"This new international travel system follows the science to keep Americans' international air travel safe," Zients said.

The change means many families and friends can be reunited, sometimes after nearly two years apart. 

Phil White, a British entrepreneur living near San Francisco, told AFP his daughter plans to finally visit from London in November. 

"As a family we're going to be together for Thanksgiving, which is amazing," he said, adding that he had not seen his daughter for 18 or 19 months. 

"That has been very, very, very difficult for us, as everyone can imagine," White said.

And British and German officials quickly welcomed the lifting of the near total ban. The German ambassador to the US called it "great news."

"Hugely important to promote people-to-people contacts and transatlantic business," Ambassador Emily Haber tweeted.

The announcement was also hailed by airlines, which have taken a huge hit during the pandemic shutdown.