12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today

12 Things in Travel You Need to Know Today
(This is a recurring post, updated daily with new information):

=== Monday, May 25 === 

Official Warns US Could Halt Immigration, Customs Processing At ‘Sanctuary City’ Airports
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin privately warned that authorities could stop processing international travelers and cargo at major U.S. airports in “sanctuary cities” that have declined to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, sources told Reuters. Mullin reportedly told travel executives the department could suspend processing at airports in cities including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and others. Reuters

LGA Sinkhole: Runway Reopens After Repairs, Inspections Completed At LaGuardia Airport
A runway at LaGuardia Airport that had been closed due to a sinkhole has reopened following repairs and inspections, though the cause is still under investigation. ABC7 New York

What Travelers Need To Know About The Ebola Virus Outbreak In Africa
An Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa has prompted new travel advisories, with officials monitoring cases in Uganda and neighboring countries. Travel Weekly

Atlanta, Houston Join List Of Airports That Can Receive Passengers From Three Countries Amid Ebola Outbreak
The U.S. has expanded airport screening locations for passengers arriving from affected African countries due to Ebola-related concerns. CNN

TSA Gold+ Could Change How Airport Security Works In The US
A new TSA initiative allows airports to opt into upgraded screening systems designed to improve efficiency and passenger experience. USA Today

U.S. Considers Revised Approach To Social Media Screening Of Foreign Travelers
CBP is revising a proposal that would require expanded social media history disclosure for Visa Waiver travelers after receiving public feedback. Travel Weekly

Sinkhole Forces Canceled Flights And Delays At New York Airport
A sinkhole caused significant disruptions at LaGuardia Airport, leading to delays and cancellations. The Independent

Sean Duffy Defends Controversial Road Trip With Whataboutisms & Immaturity
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy faced scrutiny over a donor-funded road trip tied to companies his department regulates. One Mile at a Time

London Passengers Urged To ‘Carry Water’ In Heatwave
Transport for London is advising passengers to prepare for extreme heat conditions during a bank holiday heatwave. BBC

Delta To Relaunch LAX–London Route With 70% Premium Cabin
Delta is returning to the LAX–Heathrow route with a premium-heavy aircraft configuration. MSN

A PDF Let The Internet Hear The Final Words In The Cockpit Of A UPS Plane As It Crashed. The NTSB Now Wants It Taken Down
The NTSB has paused release of certain investigation materials amid concerns over privacy and sensitivity. CNN

Yosemite, Other National Parks Face Overcrowding After Dropping Entry Reservations: ‘Felt Like A Day At Disneyland’
National parks are experiencing congestion after rolling back reservation systems. NY Post

Woman Faints On American Airlines Flight From Miami To New York City. Then She Wakes Up And Realizes Her Luggage Is Missing
A passenger claims she lost belongings after a medical emergency onboard and is disputing responsibility with the airline. NewsBreak

Ryanair CFO Warns Weaker European Carriers May Not Survive Jet Fuel Crunch
Ryanair warns rising fuel costs could push weaker airlines out of the market. CNBC

Japan Is Getting A Pokemon-Themed Airport Two Years After Being Damaged By Magnitude 7.6 Earthquake
A regional Japanese airport is being redesigned with a Pokémon theme as part of a tourism revival effort. Daily Mail

People Are Using Their Laptops On BART. Officials Think They Know Why
Riders are increasingly using laptops on public transit as theft rates have declined significantly. San Francisco Chronicle

Shanghai-Bound Delta Flight Forced To Divert To Seattle Over Disruptive Passenger — Stranding Travelers Overnight
A Delta flight was diverted after a disruptive passenger incident, causing delays for travelers. NY Post

EasyJet Flight Diverts To Rome Over Power Bank In Luggage
A flight diversion occurred after a lithium battery issue was discovered onboard. BBC

U.S. Travel Disappointed With CBP’s Social Media Screening
The U.S. Travel Association criticized revised CBP screening proposals as potentially discouraging tourism. Travel Weekly

THAT’S A KICK IN THE TEETH: Cost, Travel Fears, Dampen Demand For World Cup In U.S.
Hotel demand in World Cup host cities is softer than expected according to industry surveys. Travel Industry Today

TSA To Pilot First Off-Site Screening For Boston Logan Flyers
A pilot program will allow passengers to complete TSA screening off-site before arriving at Boston Logan Airport. MSN

=== Sunday, May 17 === 

European Airlines Downplay Fears Of Summer Jet Fuel Shortage
European airlines, airports and tour operators are striking a bullish tone on jet fuel supply despite one of the worst crises in decades which has driven prices ‌to double from pre-Iran war levels as the conflict snarls oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz. The sector and regional officials are notably downplaying fears of shortages partly to reassure travellers ahead of the peak northern hemisphere summer and protect bookings at a critical time for earnings, analysts say. Reuters

Long Island Rail Road Workers Go On Strike After MTA, Unions Fail To Reach New Contract
Tens of thousands of commuters in southeastern New York will be impacted as the Long Island Rail Road shuts down due to a strike over contract negotiations. The strike stems from an inability to reach a deal on a new four-year contract. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and unions agreed to the terms of the first three years, but disputes arose about the final year. CBS New York

Jet Fuel Shortage Is A Myth From Airlines Who Want To Cancel Flights, Says Elevate Jet CEO
There is no jet fuel shortage, according to Greg Raiff, CEO of private jet services company Elevate Jet. The Strait of Hormuz may be closed, locking away more than 20% of the world’s supply of jet fuel. Major airlines have cancelled hundreds of flights all over the world. And Europe may reach a 23-day shortage threshold in June. But Raiff hasn’t seen a lack of jet fuel. Fortune

United Adds Nonstop Service To Sapporo, New Flight Between Chicago And Tokyo-Narita
United today announced it is expanding its service to Japan with new flights to Sapporo and Tokyo-Narita this winter. The airline will launch the first nonstop service from the continental U.S. to Sapporo, Japan and will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita*. As the leading carrier between the U.S. and Japan, these new flights give travelers from across North America more ways to explore Japan and connect across Asia. PR Newswire

Mexico’s Uber Crackdown At Airports To Complicate Plans For World Cup Visitors
Mexico is cracking down on the use of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Didi at the nation’s airports, causing headaches for travelers as it prepares to host the World Cup next month. The dispute over the apps underscores a rare case of unresolved airport accommodations globally for the popular rideshare companies. A local Uber spokesman blamed Mexico’s sudden enforcement of a preexisting airport ban for creating problems the company doesn’t face elsewhere. Bloomberg

Southwest Airlines Lays Off 75 In Latest Restructuring
Layoffs announced: Southwest confirmed it cut about 75 jobs in a restructuring effort, offering displaced workers opportunities to apply for other positions. Industry context: The cuts follow baggage fee hikes and mirror cost pressures seen across U.S. airlines, including rising fuel expenses. Transformation ahead: CEO Bob Jordan calls this the largest transformation in company history, with new seating options and potential long-haul international routes. MSN

How Sole Survivor Of Ill-Fated Maldives Scuba Dive That Killed 5 Narrowly Escaped Death
Searches were halted due to rough weather Friday, and local police were investigating. Experts have said oxygen toxicity and sheer panic are possible factors that led to the deaths of the five scuba divers. “It’s likely that something went wrong with the tanks,” Pulmonologist Claudio Micheletto told the Italian outlet Adnkronos on Thursday. NY Post

Trump’s Big Trip Was Supposed To Sell 500 Boeing Planes
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg went to China with President Donald Trump amid hopes that the visit would result in China ordering about 500 Boeing airplanes. Trump said Thursday that China would be buying 200 jets, a much smaller order than Wall Street expected. It was a setback for Boeing and for the long-anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Boeing’s stock promptly fell and was logged its steepest drop in six months. MSN

Iran War Fallout Forces Singapore Airlines-Backed Air India To Cancel 27% Of International Flights
Singapore Airlines-backed Air India is scaling back international flights between June and August. The Airline is cutting nearly 140 flights per week, which roughly translates to 27% of its total international flights. Indian carriers have been among the worst affected since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. CNBC

The 10 Best Countries In The World. How Did The US Rank?
When deciding where to travel next or move abroad, why not start with the best countries in the world? U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Countries Ranking on May 14, an evaluation of 100 countries by 42 global experts from academia, think tanks and other organizations. USA Today

The Night The Lights Went Out In Havana: Energy Blockade Pulls Plug On City’s Legendary Nightlife
Havana’s broad avenues are empty at night. Theatres are closed. Bars and cafés have curtains lowered. It’s hard to find lights in the streets or Cubans making money entertaining tourists. Travel Industry Today

Boeing, Toyota Donated $1 Million Each To Transportation Secretary’s Road-Trip Show
Boeing and Toyota donated $1 million each to help fund a new reality-television inspired show starring Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy with his family on a road trip. “The Great American Road Trip” features the Duffys traveling throughout the U.S. in a video series celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Costs were covered by a nonprofit backed by big companies his agency oversees, including the sums given by Boeing and Toyota, according to people with knowledge of the agreements. WSJ

What Is The Schengen Shuffle And Who’s Doing It?
The Schengen Area, established in 1985, is an agreement between member countries, guaranteeing free movement between member countries — meaning no border controls or required passport stamps. The 90/180 rule doesn’t require the maximum 90 days in the Schengen Area to be consecutive but entails careful math to be sure travelers don’t stay longer than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. When entering the area, officials look back 180 days from the current date to ensure visitors haven’t exceeded 90 total days in the zone. CNN

FBI Director Kash Patel’s Hawaii Trip Included ‘VIP Snorkel’ At A Pearl Harbor Memorial
When Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer, the FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation, highlighting his walking tour of the bureau’s Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. Left out of the FBI’s news releases was an exclusive excursion that Patel took days later when he participated in what government officials described as a “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona in an outing coordinated by the military. The sunken battleship entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines at Pearl Harbor. AP