The US has reopened its borders to the UK after almost two years of travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
America is expecting a flood of international visitors crossing its borders by air and by land on Monday after lifting travel restrictions for much of the world's population first imposed in early 2020 to address the spread of Covid-19.
Footage shows the first flights taking off from London Heathrow's Terminal 3 - headed for the US.
Virgin Atlantic flight VS3 performed a synchronised departure on parallel runways alongside British Airways flight BA001, heading for New York JFK to celebrate the reopening on Monday.
The chief executive of Virgin Atlantic has hailed it as a "day of celebration".
Speaking to the PA news agency at Heathrow, Shai Weiss said: "It's been 600 days that the US border has been shut down for UK nationals.
"To see passengers coming in early in the morning, grandparents going to see grandchildren they've never met, families reuniting, people going to care for elderly people and businesses reconnecting is really a day of celebration for all of us in the industry and, of course, for Virgin Atlantic."
He called the transatlantic route "one of the most important in the world".
"For us at Virgin Atlantic, we say it wouldn't be Virgin without the Atlantic," he said.
Mr Weiss also called the synchronised departure of a Virgin Atlantic and British Airways flight from Heathrow to New York a "remarkable achievement".
He said it showed that "when there is a bigger problem than the competition for the two airlines, we can unite to benefit the public, consumers and businesses."
Husband and wife Ben and Becca Akhurst told the PA news agency they "can't believe this is actually happening", ahead of flying to Orlando, Florida, later today.
The pair, both aged 31 and from Ashford, Kent, said: "This trip has been a long time coming - after five cancellations we finally get to return to Orlando.
"This is going to be an emotional trip and the relief once we had our negative test results a couple of days ago was an amazing feeling. We can't believe this is actually happening but look forward to savouring every moment and sharing it with our friends and family."
They plan to stay at Walt Disney World to meet friends they made during the pandemic through their "shared love of Disney".
