All articles tagged with #airports
The Trump administration, led by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, reiterated its threat to withhold customs processing at sanctuary-city airports, a move travel-industry groups say would disrupt flights, hurt tourism and jeopardize jobs, and it drew swift condemnation from airlines and other industry players.
Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, leaving Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, PA with no commercial flights and risking local jobs and revenue as a $22 million terminal expansion continues; private charter flights remain available, and officials hope another carrier will replace Spirit while the airport recovers.
A Ukrainian drone struck the Rostov-on-Don air traffic control center, forcing dozens of southern Russia airports to halt operations and leading to hundreds of flight cancellations or delays. About 14,000 passengers were stranded as airlines adjusted schedules and the Transport Ministry coordinated rail transfers for affected travelers. A preliminary aviation-suspension notice was later withdrawn, as drone activity and hostilities persisted across the region.
Twenty-two Buddhist monks returning from a four-day trip to Thailand were arrested at Sri Lanka's international airport after customs found 242 pounds of marijuana—worth about $3.4 million—hidden behind false walls in their luggage; a 23rd monk who organized the trip was later arrested. Investigators said the narcotics were carried by monks-in-training from various temples and schools, funded by an unnamed sponsor as a supposed 'donation' for their return. The seizure is the airport's largest kush detection in history, and the monks were remanded for seven days for further questioning.
Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport resumed commercial flights on Saturday for the first time since Iran’s war with the US and Israel began, with flights to Istanbul, Saudi Arabia and Oman listed as part of a phased reopening after a Pakistan-brokered cease-fire that has extended this week.
A Visual Capitalist visualization ranks U.S. airports by total flights (aircraft movements) in 2025 using FAA data, with Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at the top—handling a takeoff or landing every 37 seconds—followed by Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and Las Vegas; the four busiest airports each exceed 700,000 movements, underscoring throughput and hub-driven connectivity rather than passenger volume, and showing how movement-based rankings differ from passenger rankings (e.g., JFK ranks 10th by movements at about one flight every 67 seconds).
European airports are seeing longer lines due to the rollout of the Entry and Exit System (EES), which requires first-time visitors to scan passports, take a photo, and provide fingerprints. While lines should ease as more travelers complete registration, you can minimize delays by arriving early (4 hours before departure), allowing longer layovers (3+ hours for Schengen connections), and choosing arrival airports with shorter queues (Madrid, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Zurich) over hubs like Amsterdam, Paris CDG, Berlin, Krakow, Lisbon.
EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) for border checks, rolled out April 10, has caused long lines and up to three-hour delays at several airports, with missed flights amid tech glitches, staffing gaps, and uneven kiosk support; travelers are urged to allow extra time as the system stabilizes, while Europe plans a follow-on ETIAS with a fee in late 2026.
ACI World’s 2025 rankings name Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta as the busiest airport overall (over 106 million passengers), followed by Dubai and Tokyo Haneda. Europe is represented in the top 10 by London Heathrow and Istanbul, with Amsterdam Schiphol appearing in the international-passengers top 10. International traffic reached about 4 billion in 2025, led by Dubai; the report highlights rebound amid a need for investment to accommodate rising air travel demand.
President Trump declared a national emergency to pay TSA workers amid the ongoing DHS shutdown and dispatched ICE officers to major airports to help with security and crowd control. Early media reports say wait times improved as back pay began flowing, signaling short-term relief, but Democratic opposition to funding remains and calls grow to end the shutdown and restore pay for all DHS workers.
Three women were arrested at Miami International Airport after refusing to pay for a second carry-on, leading to trespassing and resisting an officer charges; one also faces battery charges as the Philadelphia-bound Frontier flight was delayed.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill renaming Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald J. Trump, a move supporters call a landmark tribute but critics say it could cost millions and may require FAA approval and a rights agreement for use of Trump’s name; lawmakers debated funding for branding and signage (initial requests ranged up to $5.5 million, with a Senate recommendation around $2.75 million), while the Trump organization has pursued related trademarks and federal legislation to formalize the renaming amid Democratic opposition over costs.
TSA officers received back pay during the federal shutdown, easing security bottlenecks at major hubs as airport lines begin to move more smoothly, with LaGuardia and other airports seeing shorter waits while the shutdown’s broader impacts persist.
Wallet-based driver’s licenses are currently available in 13 states plus Puerto Rico, with seven additional states signed on for future adoption. Users can add licenses to Wallet for TSA checkpoints and select venues, and a Digital Passport option exists for domestic travel where Wallet IDs aren’t available. A physical ID is still often required, and the feature requires iOS 26.1 / watchOS 26.1 or later.
A funding stalemate leaves TSA workers unpaid and airport lines long, with back pay potentially delayed. The piece offers line-friendly ideas to pass the wait: consider applying for TSA PreCheck if possible, then use calm breathing, podcasts, photo organization, and brain-teasers like a Rubik’s Cube; also explore mobile games and tech reads to stay occupied while you queue.