BERLIN (Reuters) – Demand for transatlantic flights has jumped since the United States announced plans last week to reopen to fully vaccinated travellers from countries including most of Europe, German airline Lufthansa said on Tuesday.

It stated that transatlantic flight bookings increased threefold in some cases last week. Demand on certain routes was close to levels pre-crisis.

The United States said last week https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/us-relax-travel-restrictions-passengers-uk-eu-november-source-2021-09-20 it would reopen in November to air travellers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

For the large traditional European airline players, such as British Airways-owner IAG (LON:), Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, the decision represents a chance https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/easing-restrictions-will-boost-us-airlines-business-travel-still-unclear-2021-09-20 to recover the transatlantic routes that are key to their profits.

Lufthansa announced that December flight bookings to the United States were at their highest level since before the crisis.

Business and leisure travellers alike snapped up flights between Zurich and Frankfurt, New York City and Miami.

The number of bookings made last week for flights from Zurich to New York and Frankfurt in Premium Economy, Business, or First class was higher than the previous year.

Lufthansa stated that additional flights would soon be launched to the United States in order to respond to increased demand. The airline will fly three times daily from November on both Lufthansa’s and SWISS carriers.

To meet pre-Christmas travel demand, it is considering expanding its connections to New York.

Lufthansa continues to increase demand for United States flights, so it is adding feeder flights between Germany and its European hubs in Austria and Belgium.