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):

=== Wednesday, April 22 === 

Trump administration in advanced talks for Spirit Airlines rescue
The Trump administration is in advanced talks for a financing package for Spirit Airlines, according to a person familiar with the matter. Spirit had been facing a potentially imminent liquidation, people familiar with the matter told CNBC last week. The airline could receive around $500 million from the government, financing that could give the government an equity stake in the discounter. CNBC

US Warns It Will Run Out Of Money To Pay Airport Security Workers In Coming Weeks
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne ‌Mullin warned on ‌Tuesday that he will run out of money to pay for 50,000 Transportation Security Administration workers ‌in ⁠the coming weeks unless Congress acts to ⁠fund the department. President Donald Trump in late March directed DHS to use ‌emergency funds to pay TSA workers who had gone without paychecks for about six weeks ‌and had sparked massive disruptions at U.S. airports. ‌Mullin told “Fox and Friends” on Tuesday that the money would run out by ‌early May. Reuters

FAA Investigating Close Call At JFK Airport Between 2 Passenger Jets
Four commercial flights narrowly avoided collisions within a 48-hour span, including a close call Monday afternoon at John F. Kennedy International Airport in which an American Airlines jet veered into the path of an Air Canada plane on final approach. Air traffic control recordings captured the tense moments as controllers urgently directed both aircraft to climb and change course. The Air Canada flight, call sign “Jazz 554,” had been cleared to land when the American Airlines jet strayed off its assigned path. Yahoo

American Airlines And TSA Expand TSA PreCheck Touchless ID To All Of American’s Hub Airports
Customers traveling through Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK and LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX) and Washington, D.C. (DCA), can verify their identity using secure facial-matching technology without presenting a physical ID or boarding pass. In addition to American’s hubs, the program is available at 60 U.S. airports where the airline operates. American Airlines Newsroom

Canadian Tourist Killed In Shooting At Mexico’s Teotihuacán Pyramids
A Canadian tourist was shot and killed Monday while visiting the Teotihuacán pyramids in Mexico, according to local authorities. Mexico’s security officials said a gunman opened fire at the popular tourist spot, killing a Canadian woman and injuring at least 13 people, including seven Americans. The shooter is believed to have taken his own life, the Security Cabinet said. CBS News

Delta Air Lines Cuts Some Summer Flights Amid High Fuel Prices
Delta Air Lines is cutting some flights this summer as airlines adjust to quickly shifting economics. The Atlanta-based airline says the decision is based on a number of operational factors and did not specify fuel, but many airlines have been working to boost revenue and trim expenses amid surging fuel prices since the start of the war in Iran. USA Today

Did JetBlue Just Admit To Surveillance Pricing? Airline Now Says Viral Post About $230 Fare Hike Was An Error.
When a frustrated JetBlue customer took to social media to complain about a flight price jumping $230 in one day, the carrier responded with advice to clear their cache and use an incognito browser to find cheaper airfare. JetBlue has since deleted the post and called it an employee’s “error,” but not before the internet flagged the response as a quiet admission of surveillance pricing, which is the controversial practice of using personal data to set individualized prices. MarketWatch

Carnival Cruise Passenger Dies While Snorkeling In Australia
A Carnival Cruise Line guest died last week during an Australia voyage. The 67-year-old woman from Tasmania was reported to be “unresponsive” in the water near Moreton Island off the coast of Queensland on April 17, the Queensland Police Service told USA TODAY in a statement. “Attempts were made to revive the woman, however, she was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the statement continued. USA Today

Hawaiian Airlines Finally Joins Oneworld Alliance, An Exciting Milestone
Alaska Airlines acquired Hawaiian Airlines in the fall of 2024. We’ve known that the plan was for Hawaiian to eventually join the oneworld alliance, and that has now finally happened, as of April 22, 2026. The biggest implications of Hawaiian joining oneworld is for those who are loyal to other oneworld programs, given that Hawaiian already participates in the Atmos Rewards program (which “belongs” to oneworld, for all practical purposes). One Mile at a Time

Spain’s Santiago De Compostela Airport To Be Closed For Five Weeks Leading To Flight Cancellations
A Spanish airport is set to be closed for a whopping five weeks for renovations, leading to the cancellation of many flights. Located in north-west Spain, Santiago de Compostela Airport will shut down all operations from April 23 to May 27. During this time, no aircraft will land at or take off from the hub. Daily Mail

Ryanair Flight Leaves British Passengers Behind In Milan Due To Long EES Queues And Delays
British airline passengers were left behind in Milan after their flight departed without them as a result of EES delays. A Ryanair flight from Milan Bergamo to Manchester took off on 16 April without a number of its passengers on board. The introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES), which began rolling out on 10 April, means many UK passengers now need to register biometric details, such as fingerprints and facial recognition images, when entering the Schengen Area. Daily Mail

Blue Jays Bus From Phoenix To SoCal After Plane Is Grounded
A mechanical issue with their charter plane forced the Toronto Blue Jays to bus from Phoenix to Southern California on Sunday night, a six-hour drive on a dark desert highway that got the team to its Orange County hotel at around 12:30 a.m. “I felt like I was back in the Northwest League,” manager John Schneider said before Monday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, which the Blue Jays won 5-2. “But we made the best of it. We all got here safe, and we’re ready to go.” ESPN

Aer Lingus Cancels Some Flights From Summer Schedule
A number of Aer Lingus flights have been cancelled from its summer schedule due to what it has described as “mandatory maintenance on aircraft”. The airline said “a limited number” of adjustments have been made, adding that the “vast majority of customers” are being accommodated on same-day services. BBC

Edelweiss Air Cancels Seattle-Zurich Summer Flights
Edelweiss Air has discontinued its flights between Seattle and Zurich, effective immediately, as it makes adjustments in its summer flight schedule, the airline said Thursday. It joins other carriers making adjustments to offset rising jet fuel costs from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Seattle Times

$13 Train Fare Spikes To $150 For World Cup Fans Attending Matches In New Jersey
Sky-high ticket prices won’t be the only thing emptying the wallets of soccer fans attending World Cup matches at some U.S. venues this spring. Fans trying to get to MetLife Stadium from New York City can expect to shell out $150 for a round-trip train fare for each match, transportation officials confirmed Friday. That’s nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the roughly 15-minute, 9-mile ride from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. On-site parking won’t be available for most fans, so New Jersey officials anticipate that around 40,000 fans will use mass transit for each match. AP

Couple Aghast When Sunny Cruise To Bermuda Is Unexpectedly Rerouted To Chilly Alternate Destination
India and Ian McCue’s Bermuda cruise was rerouted to Canada due to unsafe weather conditions along the original route. Virgin Voyages offered passengers onboard credit and future voyage incentives after notifying them of the itinerary change. The couple’s TikTok about the unexpected trip went viral as they praised Canadian hospitality and made the most of it. People

Two Southwest Airlines Planes Came Dangerously Close In Nashville And Had To Take Evasive Action
Two Southwest Airlines planes had to take evasive action to avoid colliding Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, after an air traffic controller directed one pilot to turn into the path of the other plane. Last year, an American Airlines jet collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. That crash on Jan. 29, 2025, put the spotlight on midair collisions, which are rare in commercial flights where the planes are equipped with systems to alert pilots about a potential collision. AP

=== Sunday, April 19 === 

JetBlue founder Neeleman warns airline could face bankruptcy
David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU), said the airline may be heading toward bankruptcy, speaking during a discussion with pilots at Breeze Airways—his most recent aviation venture—on Thursday. Neeleman, a long-time airline entrepreneur who launched JetBlue in 1999 and led the company as CEO until 2007, outlined concerns about the carrier’s financial outlook in remarks that later circulated on X. Investors Hub

Spirit Airlines Could Liquidate As Early As This Week, Sources Say
Spirit Airlines could liquidate as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The airline, which was trying to recover from its second bankruptcy in less than a year, is facing the added challenge of a spike in the price of fuel. Spirit said in February that it was set to exit bankruptcy as early as this spring. CNBC

United CEO Floated Idea of United-American Airlines Merger
United CEO Scott Kirby floated the idea to Trump administration officials of United merging with American Airlines, according to sources familiar with the situation. That conversation with officials is surfacing now after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hinted the Trump administration was open to further consolidation in the aviation industry, but United would have a challenging road to show such a combination would improve competition or not raise costs for flyers. CBS News

Europe Has ‘Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left’, Energy Boss Warns
Europe has “maybe 6 weeks of jet fuel left”, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned. Stocks would reach a tipping point in June if Europe was unable to replace at least half of its imports from the Middle East, the organisation said in a report this week. BBC

Germany’s Lufthansa to Shut Regional CityLine Unit Amid Fuel Costs and Strikes Pressure
German airline group Lufthansa said on Thursday that it will shut down its CityLine regional subsidiary, saying higher jet fuel prices and a series of labour strikes had forced an acceleration of its strategic plans. “As a first, immediately effective step, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently removed from the flight programme starting the day after tomorrow, in order to reduce further losses at the loss-making airline,” the group said. EuroNews

Train Tickets to 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium from NYC to Cost More Than $100
New Jersey’s NJ Transit is currently planning to charge more than $100 for return rail tickets from New York’s Pennsylvania Station to MetLife Stadium for FIFA World Cup games. According to people familiar with the plans, who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect relationships, a return ticket purchased via NJ Transit, New Jersey’s transportation provider, is currently modeled for more than a seven-fold increase from its usual prices during the World Cup this summer. The Athletic

The FAA Moves To Cut Flights At Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
How the turf war at O’Hare International Airport started is a matter of debate. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom blames his rival, United Airlines. “Where we were headed in Chicago, due to the reckless scheduling of our competitor, OK, was going to be gridlock,” Isom said at an investors conference in Washington, D.C., last month. NPR

Virgin Atlantic Raises Ticket Prices By Up To $488 As Jet Fuel Prices Soar
Virgin Atlantic has raised ticket prices by as much as £360 ($488 USD) as the war in Iran threatened jet fuel supplies. Sir Richard Branson’s airline has added a fuel surcharge of £50 to economy-class tickets, with premium economy increasing by £180 and business class by £360. The Telegraph

Delta Unveils First New Delta One Suite In Premium Cabin Arms Race
Delta is unveiling the first update to its Delta One suite in about a decade. The airline is logging a bigger portion of its revenue from premium seating compared with main cabin sales. CNBC

Southwest CEO signals lounges are coming soon in premium push
Southwest Airlines Co. said it’s pushing ahead with a plan to introduce lounges, highlighting how the company is committed to a corporate makeover even as it absorbs higher costs from surging fuel prices. The effort is a “near term” pursuit, Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan said, as the carrier moves to court higher-paying travelers and boost revenue. Bloomberg

American YouTuber sentenced to 6 months in South Korean prison
YouTuber Johnny Somali will have plenty of time to brush up on his Korean in the prison library … because he’s been sentenced to serve 6 months for his controversial acts. The Seoul Western District Court found Somali — government name Ramsey Khalid Ismael — guilty on multiple charges, including obstruction of business and distributing fabricated sexually explicit content. TMZ

California nurse wins huge payout from Carnival after drinking 14 tequila shots and suffering fall
A woman who took 14 shots of tequila aboard a Carnival cruise ship will receive $300,000 from the company after suing over injuries she sustained in a fall while intoxicated. Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse who lives in Vacaville, California, was a passenger on the Carnival Radiance on January 5, 2024, when she was served the massive amount of liquor between 2:58pm and 11:37pm – roughly an eight-and-a-half-hour span, according to the lawsuit. Daily Mail

=== Thursday, April 16 === 

Spirit Airlines Could Liquidate As Early As This Week, Sources Say
Spirit Airlines could liquidate as early as this week, according to people familiar with the matter. The airline, which was trying to recover from its second bankruptcy in less than a year, is facing the added challenge of a spike in the price of fuel. Spirit said in February that it was set to exit bankruptcy as early as this spring. CNBC

United CEO Floated Idea of United-American Airlines Merger
United CEO Scott Kirby floated the idea to Trump administration officials of United merging with American Airlines, according to sources familiar with the situation. That conversation with officials is surfacing now after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy hinted the Trump administration was open to further consolidation in the aviation industry, but United would have a challenging road to show such a combination would improve competition or not raise costs for flyers. CBS News

What a United-American Merger Would Mean, From Antitrust Hurdles to Airfare
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reportedly floated the idea of a potential tie-up with American Airlines to Trump administration officials earlier this year. That monster deal would create the world’s largest airline but would face major antitrust challenges, analysts said. Kirby, an American Airlines alumnus, has repeatedly said smaller, weaker airlines will suffer as United and Delta, the country’s profit leaders, are set up to better weather storms. CNBC

Europe Has ‘Maybe 6 Weeks of Jet Fuel Left’, Energy Boss Warns
Europe has “maybe 6 weeks of jet fuel left”, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned. Stocks would reach a tipping point in June if Europe was unable to replace at least half of its imports from the Middle East, the organisation said in a report this week. BBC

Germany’s Lufthansa to Shut Regional CityLine Unit Amid Fuel Costs and Strikes Pressure
German airline group Lufthansa said on Thursday that it will shut down its CityLine regional subsidiary, saying higher jet fuel prices and a series of labour strikes had forced an acceleration of its strategic plans. “As a first, immediately effective step, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently removed from the flight programme starting the day after tomorrow, in order to reduce further losses at the loss-making airline,” the group said. EuroNews

Pilot Forced to Slam on the Brakes to Avoid Truck at Charlotte Airport
An American Airlines pilot was forced to “slam on the brakes” to avoid colliding with a truck at Charlotte’s airport on Wednesday, according to Air Traffic Control audio. “They just went right in front of us,” the pilot of American Airlines Flight 1197 can be heard telling a ramp controller in the audio, referring to the truck. “We nearly hit them. I had to slam on the brakes.” CBS News

Southwest Flight Attendant Allegedly Flooded Hotel During Layover. Now the Airline Is Being Sued for Damages
A Florida hotel is suing Southwest Airlines claiming a flight attendant caused flooding at the property. The crew member allegedly interfered with a fire sprinkler at the hotel, and their remediation costs total $215,576 per a notice of removal. The incident occurred during a layover in February 2025. People

Ice Chunk Crashes Through California Home Roof. FAA Called to Investigate
A large chunk of dirty ice crashed through the roof of a Whittier home Friday morning. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn requested that the FAA investigate whether the ice originated from aircraft, citing safety concerns over densely populated areas. The ice could have come from an aircraft, airplane toilet waste, or potentially from a rare phenomenon called megacryometeors. Los Angeles Times

Family of 8 Spends $52K on Trip to Peru Before They Were ‘Red-Flagged’ and Denied Boarding by Airline
An Indian court ordered police to investigate KLM Royal Dutch Airlines executives after a family was allegedly denied boarding over visa issues, according to a local report. The family reportedly claims the airline misinterpreted Peru’s entry rules and later “red-flagged” them, causing further travel disruptions. KLM stated it complies with travel regulations and urged passengers to ensure proper documentation before flying. People

Flight Attendant Arrested for Pushing Line-Jumping Teen Girl at Disney World
A male Virgin Atlantic flight attendant was arrested for allegedly pushing a teenage girl when she tried to jump ahead of him in a line for a Disney World ride. Keith Newman, a 47-year-old British man, was taken into custody over the Feb. 20 shoving saga that unfolded at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Orlando, cops said. Newman had been waiting to ride the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction when the 18-year-old and her friend tried to skip ahead, according to an arrest affidavit. NY Post

Train Tickets to 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium from NYC to Cost More Than $100
New Jersey’s NJ Transit is currently planning to charge more than $100 for return rail tickets from New York’s Pennsylvania Station to MetLife Stadium for FIFA World Cup games. According to people familiar with the plans, who asked to remain anonymous in order to protect relationships, a return ticket purchased via NJ Transit, New Jersey’s transportation provider, is currently modeled for more than a seven-fold increase from its usual prices during the World Cup this summer. The Athletic

Holland America Line Invests $500 Million in Ship Revitalization
Holland America Line will spend $500 million on a refurbishment of ships in its Vista and Signature classes. The line called the upgrade “a thoughtful blend of new, elevated experiences and guest favorites inspired by our Pinnacle class.” The Pinnacle-class ships are HAL’s line’s most modern vessels: Koningsdam (2016), Nieuw Statendam (2018) and Rotterdam (2021). Travel Weekly

Airline CEOs Urged by Lawmaker to Lower Fares if Fuel Prices Come Down
Airlines have raised airfare, fuel surcharges and baggage fees this year to help cover a surge in fuel costs since the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on Feb. 28. U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., urged the CEOs of the biggest U.S. carriers — Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines — to bring fares down when fuel prices drop. Fuel is airlines’ biggest expense after labor. CNBC

Woman Suffers ‘Sudden Death’ Onboard Ultra-Long Haul Flight
A woman has died while taking one of the longest commercial flights in the world. Her death took place during the more than 17-hour journey, operated by Qantas, from John F. Kennedy International in New York to Auckland Airport in New Zealand, and before she could make a second, four-hour onward journey to Sydney, Australia. Daily Beast

American Held in Africa After Influencer Fiancee’s Death
An American citizen is being held by police in Africa amid the death of his influencer fiancée that took place days after their engagement and a dispute at the hotel they were staying in, the Associated Press reports. Joseph Isaac McCann, 45, was questioned by police on Monday (April 13), after Ashly Robinson, who gained a large following online under the name Ashlee Jenae, was found dead in her room. Zuberi Chembera, the Deputy Director of Investigations in Zanzibar, wouldn’t provide a public comment on Thursday (April 16) as investigations were ongoing. iHeart

Why are BART fares to SFO so high? Blame the ‘rent’ paid to airport
When BART passengers gripe about a $5.51 surcharge applied to every trip to San Francisco International Airport, the agency has one response: Blame the rent. In this case, “rent” refers to the $2.5 million annual payment that BART makes to the airport, in exchange for running trains to a station housed in the International Terminal. San Francisco Airport Commission built the station for $200 million, and has leased it to BART since the facility opened in 2023. SF Chronicle

American Airlines to launch electronic boarding gates at DFW, ushering in the next evolution of the boarding experience
American Airlines is advancing the future of air travel with the official launch of electronic boarding gates at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) beginning this summer. Following a successful pilot in November 2025, and strong customer feedback, American is now deploying the technology at scale at its largest hub, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to a more seamless, user-friendly and consistent boarding experience. American will be the first major U.S. network carrier to install dormakaba electronic boarding gates at scale at a major U.S. airport hub, starting in the new DFW Terminal C Pier Expansion, setting a new standard for how customers move from gate to aircraft. American Airlines Newsroom