Virgin Atlantic is urging the Government to add the US to its green list to open up transatlantic travel.

The call comes after confirmation from the White House that the US will not lift restrictions for UK travellers.

BBC reporter Jon Sopel said the White House is keeping the travel ban on UK and the Schengen countries which were imposed by former president Donald Trump in March 2020.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said: “With world-leading vaccination programmes in both the UK and US, there is a clear opportunity to safely open up travel between these two low-risk countries whilst protecting public health,” according to PA.

“Whilst the transatlantic corridor is closed, £23 million in economic value each day is restricted,” the spokesman added.

“We urge the UK Government to move the US to the UK’s ‘green list’ and for vaccination exemption to be extended to all doubly vaccinated passengers with World Health Organisation-recognised vaccines, beginning with US and EU. 

“There is no reason to delay.”