Anxious travelers and their relatives rejoiced, wept and breathed sighs of relief Monday as the United States reopened to vaccinated visitors, ending 20 months of Covid-19 restrictions that separated families, hobbled tourism and strained diplomatic ties.

Smiling passengers from the first European flight to land under the new rules at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport said it was great to be back as they entered the terminal to cheers and applause.