US citizens visiting certain parts of Europe will need authorization from the European Union (EU) starting in spring 2023, reports Forbes. In 2018, the EU announced plans to implement a European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) that would require "pre-travel screening for security and migration risks of travelers benefiting from visa-free access to the 26 European countries that make up the Schengen area." At the time, ETIAS was set to launch in January 2021, but COVID-19 delayed the process. The EU has now confirmed that the introduction of the ETIAS program will become operational in early 2023. Travelers will be able to complete an application and pay a service fee of 7 euros (roughly $8) online. Individuals under the age of 18 and seniors over age 70 will not be charged the application fee. The authorization will be valid for three years.

ETIAS registration will be necessary to enter Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Trips to the microstates of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City are also included in the ETIAS program. Four countries — Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania — are not Schengen countries yet, but are in the process of joining. Once they are admitted to the zone, they will require travelers to have an ETIAS authorization, too. Once the ETIAS program goes live, Europe-bound airlines will be required by law to check travelers’ ETIAS authorizations before allowing them to board.

European Union (EU) member countries are recommending countries eliminate pre-departure COVID-19 testing and quarantine procedures for fully vaccinated travelers who received vaccines authorized in the EU or approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), reports Travel Pulse. Starting March 1, 2022, the European Council advised that fully vaccinated travelers should be able to enter the EU without prior testing if they received the last dose of their primary vaccination series at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival. Those who received a booster dose and those who recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of travel would also be allowed to enter without pre-departure tests. The guidance is non-binding. "The updates will further facilitate travel from outside the EU into the EU, and take into account the evolution of the pandemic, the increasing vaccination uptake worldwide and the administration of booster doses," the European Commission said.

The number of travelers screened at airports on Friday, February 18, reached their highest level since Thanksgiving as more countries ease COVID-19 travel restrictions, reports USA Today. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it screened approximately 2.24 million travelers on Friday, the most since the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend in 2021, when more than 2.4 million travelers were screened. The agency screened an additional 1.8 million travelers on Saturday and over 2 million on Sunday. The three-day total was nearly double the number of travelers screened during the same period last year, and also the first time screenings topped 2 million since January 2.

Delta Air Lines has announced that is adding three new non-stop routes to Hawaii next winter with flights from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Detroit Wayne County Metro Airport (DTW), and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. From its Atlanta hub, Delta will fly daily to Maui beginning November 19, while also beginning daily Detroit-Honolulu service. On December 17, Delta will begin daily nonstop New York JFK-Honolulu service. In total, Delta will offer 18 daily nonstop flights to four Hawaiian destinations from seven US cities. The airline’s complete winter schedule to Hawaii includes:

Air Canada will launch four new US routes this summer and restore service to 41 routes that were previously flown or announced, reports Travel Weekly. The moves will bring the airline's North American capacity up to 90% of pre-pandemic levels. The new routes include twice-daily Montreal-Atlanta and Montreal-Detroit service beginning June 1, as well as service between Toronto and Salt Lake City, UT, and between Vancouver and Austin, TX. Air Canada will fly Toronto-Salt Lake City three times per week beginning June 2, and Vancouver-Austin four times per week beginning June 1. The carrier will begin a rapid rebuild of its pandemic-altered North American route network on April 30, with plans to restore 41 routes by June 24, including 24 routes that touch the US. The restored US routes will include 10 connecting American cities to Toronto, seven that connect to Montreal, three to Vancouver, and one each to Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax, and Calgary. The announcement comes a week after the Canadian government's decision to ease entry requirements for vaccinated travelers beginning February 28.

Israel will officially open its borders to all travelers of all ages, regardless of their vaccination status, starting March 1, reports Travel Market Report. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, and Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov, citing the improving health situation in making the decision. Israel will still require PCR tests – one upon entry and another after landing in Israel – and travelers will still be required to quarantine until they either receive the results of the negative PCR test or 24 hours passes. The move comes just about two months after Israel reopened to fully vaccinated or recovered travelers. “The ease in restrictions allows for more travelers to enter our country while also ensuring the health and wellbeing of all. Despite the country’s closure over the past two years, we are back and better than ever and travelers can expect refurbished historical sites with increased accessibility, new hotels, new museums, and more,” Tourism Commissioner for North American Eyal Carlin said.