Trade groups such as the US Travel Association, American Hotel and Lodging Association, and Airlines for America sent a letter to the White House urging the Biden administration to lift the mask mandate and end other COVID travel restrictions, reports NBC News. In the letter, the groups said ending travel advisories, repealing the federal mask mandate, and working with other countries to end travel restrictions are crucial to restoring the US economy and workforce. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has twice extended the face mask requirement for airports, planes, buses, and rail systems; however, as case numbers have dwindled and other COVID metrics have improved in recent months, the TSA is set to lift the requirement on March 18. While the mandate could be extended once again, it's unclear if that will happen. The requirement has remained in place even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a shift in COVID-19 guidance late last month, saying most Americans are safe without a mask in indoor settings. The CDC currently advises masks only in areas listed as having high transmission. Despite the change in guidance, the TSA opted not to lift the federal requirement. "The mask requirement remains in place and we will continue to assess the duration of the requirement in consultation with CDC," a TSA official said late last month when the CDC change was announced.

Ireland has dropped its remaining COVID-19 restrictions for inbound international visitors, reports Travel Market Report. As of March 6, the Irish government confirmed that, regardless of their country of origin, international travelers can enter the country without COVID-19 restrictions, and will no longer need to provide proof of vaccination or recovery, test results, or even the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) that was previously required. Irish officials are still telling travelers that they should follow the country’s Health Service Executive guidance (HSE) when traveling, including isolating or testing when appropriate, and face masks are still recommended in public transportation, but the COVID-era restrictions will no longer impact travel. Travelers visiting Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, are still required to fulfill the UK's entry requirements, including submission of a completed Passenger Locator Form.

Puerto Rico has announced that it is eliminating all COVID-related border protocols for US travelers this week, reports Travel + Leisure. Beginning March 10, travelers entering Puerto Rico on a domestic flight won't be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, nor will they be required to complete a travel declaration form before their trip, according to Discover Puerto Rico, the island's destination marketing organization. In addition to new entry protocols, Puerto Rico will eliminate the requirement that people show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter businesses such as hotels and restaurants, but individual venues will be allowed to implement their own rules. The new travel rules are an expansion of the island's decision to ease some restrictions last month, when officials eliminated a pre-arrival testing requirement for vaccinated travelers and allowed unvaccinated travelers to skip quarantine if they arrived with proof of a negative test taken within the past two days.

United Airlines has announced its new 'bag drop shortcut,' a new, simple way for travelers to skip the line, check their bag in a minute or less on average, and get to their flight. To use the new service, travelers can check-in on the United app and select the number of bags they plan to check. At a designated bag 'shortcut' location at the airport, travelers can place the bag on a scale and scan the boarding pass at a kiosk. A United staff member will check the traveler's ID, apply the bag tag, and complete the process. This free service is available at United's hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington DC; the airline plans to expand bag drop shortcut to dozens more new airports this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved three more destinations to its Level Four: Very High COVID-19 advisory list, reports Travel Pulse. The warning advises all Americans to avoid traveling to Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Thailand whether they have been fully vaccinated or not. The new notice comes just four days after the CDC put a Level 4 warning on traveling to Vietnam, which makes more than 130 countries that now have a CDC travel designation. “If you must travel to these destinations, make sure you are fully vaccinated before travel,” the CDC said. The CDC classifies a country as Level 4 if it reports more than 500 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 people over the last 28 days. Both Thailand and New Zealand have recently loosened restrictions to enter the country, although Hong Kong does not allow any visitors except from China.