WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Travel website Kayak said on Monday (Oct 18) that searches related to international travel to the United States spiked 48 per cent last Saturday, from the same day one week earlier.

This followed the White House's announcement last Friday that it would lift Covid-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors starting Nov 8.

Kayak is owned and operated by Booking Holdings.

Separately, Expedia said on Monday that there was a 28 per cent increase in British travellers and a 24 per cent increase in French travellers searching for hotels in the US, comparing the Oct 8 to 10 period to Oct 15 to 17.

Delta Air Lines chief executive Ed Bastian said last week before the White House's statement that the airline had seen "improving trends internationally", spurred by the decision to lift the restrictions, announced in September.

"Thanks to this important policy change, many families are going to be reunited this holiday season for the first time in almost two years," Mr Bastian said.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said last Friday that foreign nationals who had received mixed doses of vaccines would be eligible to travel to the US, but additional questions remain to be answered, including the government's policies on exemptions, including for children.