Ready, set, travel: Holiday rush to airports, highways now underway
Cross your fingers: Flight cancellations are the lowest they’ve been in five years. The busiest days on the road will be Saturday and next Thursday, Dec. 28.
Airlines
Articles
Southwest Airlines reaches $140M settlement over holiday meltdown last year
The airline will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights.
Holiday crowds at airports, on highways expected to be bigger than last year
Auto club AAA forecast Monday that 115.2 million people will go 50 miles or more from home during the 10 days between Dec. 23 and New Year’s Day. That’s 2.2% more than AAA predicted during the comparable stretch last year.
Trial deciding if JetBlue can buy Spirit—and further consolidate the industry—nears its end
A Justice Department lawyer argued that the deal would push fares higher by 30% and leave fewer options for travelers on a budget.
TSA breaks daily record for number of passengers screened
Despite recent signs of slowing demand for air travel, eight of the 10 busiest screening days in TSA history have come in 2023.
From airlines to ticket sellers, companies fight U.S. to keep junk fees
Corporations have fought vigorously to thwart even the most basic rules that would require them to be more transparent about hidden charges, according to a Washington Post review of federal lobbying records and hundreds of filings submitted to government agencies.
JetBlue-Spirit merger trial tests U.S. airline deal crackdown
The U.S. crackdown on airline consolidation faces a new test this week with the trial of a government lawsuit claiming the $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit Airlines Inc. by JetBlue Airways Corp. would reduce competition and boost fares for passengers.
United Airlines says software update caused delayed flights
More than 350 United flights were delayed Tuesday—13% of the carrier’s schedule, far more than rivals American, Delta and Southwest—on a day that many holiday vacationers were expected to fly home.
Labor Day weekend travelers should expect lots of company
Canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend.
In court documents, JetBlue says it could raise fares on some routes after buying Spirit Airlines
Consumer advocates say the disclosure supports the antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking JetBlue’s $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit, the nation’s largest discount airline.
American Airlines pilots ratify new contract with big pay raises, bonuses
The Allied Pilots Association said that 73% of pilots who took part voted in favor of the four-year contract, which it valued at $9.6 billion.
Thousands of U.S. flights grounded, 1.1M lose power as strong storms hit
The storms’ spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states. By late Monday afternoon, about 1,500 U.S. flights had been canceled and more than 7,000 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
Flight delays expected this weekend as airlines face major test
Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.
Hackers steal personal info on thousands of pilot applicants at American, Southwest
According to letters that the airlines were required to file with regulators, hackers gained access to names, birth dates, Social Security and passport numbers, and driver and pilot-license numbers of applicants for pilot and cadet jobs.
TSA records busiest day since 2019 amid smooth holiday for air travel
The figures are an early sign of strong travel demand as summer arrives and an indication that the system is ready for heavy volumes of passengers, with few disruptions reported in recent days.
Big crowds expected for the summer travel season—and big prices, too
For the travel industry, the big question is how long consumers can keep paying for airline tickets and accommodations while they deal with stubborn high inflation, news about layoffs and bank failures, and fear of a recession.
U.S. to propose new rules for airline cancellations, delays
The aim of the rules would be, for the first time, to require airlines to pay compensation beyond a ticket refund and to cover expenses that consumers incur if the airline causes a cancellation or significant delay.
United plans to hire 15,000, adding to surge in airline jobs
Airlines are trying to avoid a rerun of last year, when they were caught unprepared for a rapid recovery in air travel.
Pilots at American, Southwest ratchet up strike threats
American, Southwest and United Airlines are under pressure to match or beat terms that rival Delta Air Lines accepted with its pilots.
TSA chief predicts record number of airline passengers this summer
U.S. airline passenger levels this summer are projected to be “comfortably above” pre-pandemic numbers, the head of the Transportation Security Administration said.