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):

United Maintains Elite Status Requirements For 2027, but Here’s What’s Changing
United is holding steady its elite status requirements for 2025, following a similar move by Delta. But the carrier will make the value of Plus Points — its currency for top-tier elites travelers that can be redeemed for upgrades — dynamic instead of having a static value. The carrier says it will increase access to saver awards in the Polaris cabin for elites and United cardholders. CNBC

Trump Administration Wants Airlines, Airports To Offer Healthier Food, Exercise Options
The Trump administration said on Monday it wants airlines and airports to offer travelers healthier food options, exercise equipment and family-friendly features like playspaces and nursing facilities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference at Reagan Washington National Airport that he had called a majority of major U.S. airline CEOs and asked them what they could do to improve the travel experience. Reuters

RFK Jr. and Trump Official Do Pull-Ups in Bizarre Press Conference
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s lined face contorted into a gnarled grimace as he hauled his shaking body up toward the metal bar for one last pull-up. That was one of the strangest moments in a generally pretty strange press conference, held at taxpayer expense at Washington D.C.’s Reagan International Airport by the Trump administration on Monday. The Independent

Planned December 15 Strike at France’s Louvre Museum Adds to Catalogue of Woes
Staff at France’s Louvre Museum plan to strike from December 15 over pay and conditions, the stoppage adding to a catalogue of recent woes — including a spectacular jewel heist and a water leak that damaged ancient books — that have put the site’s management under intense scrutiny. Reuters

Spirit Airlines Transfers Chicago Airport Gates to American Airlines for $30 Million
Spirit Aviation will transfer two airport gates to American Airlines for $30 million after a judge at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved the request on Monday. Spirit filed for bankruptcy for a second time in August as it grappled with dwindling cash reserves and mounting losses; the company has already exited 14 airports and rejected leases for more than 80 aircraft. Reuters

Vermont Rescue Team Sees Surge in Calls as Social Media Lures Skiers Into Danger
A rescue team covering Vermont’s tallest mountain has been responding to calls for decades, but in recent years has seen a sharp rise in incidents involving inexperienced skiers. Motivated by social media videos of backcountry powder runs, more people are skiing out of bounds, becoming lost in the woods, and requiring rescue. AP

How India’s Largest Airline Lost Control and Threw Air Travel Into Chaos
Manjuri carried her husband’s coffin across India’s northeast, hoping to fly to Kolkata for his final farewell — but long delays and a cancellation by IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, left her stranded for hours. The disruptions reflect widespread operational chaos that has rippled through India’s aviation system. BBC

It’s 43 Hours From LA to Chicago. These Train People Like It That Way
On the long ride from Los Angeles to Chicago aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, unexpected stops in remote cornfield country are routine. While such delays might horrify hurried travelers, seasoned passengers embrace the slow rhythm and unique culture of the long-haul journey. LA Times

Travel Warning for American Tourists as Outbreak of Dangerous Tropical Virus Accelerates
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are experiencing outbreaks of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, prompting the CDC to issue Level 2 travel advisories urging enhanced precautions. The disease had previously triggered Covid-era measures in China and now poses an escalating risk to travelers. Daily Mail

Cruise Company Sued After Man Dies on Ship
A woman filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, alleging that her fiancé died due to overservice of alcohol and force used by crew members during a Mexico trip. Her attorney argued the company “grossly and egregiously violated” its own safety policies. Newsweek

United Airlines to Add a New Nonstop Route From SFO to Australia This Week
United will launch the first nonstop service between the U.S. and Adelaide, Australia, on Dec. 11, with three weekly seasonal 787-9 flights from San Francisco International. It becomes the airline’s third SFO–Australia route, joining Sydney and Brisbane. American Airlines also began seasonal service from LAX to Brisbane this week. SF Gate

Asia Storms Kill More Than 900 as Sri Lanka, Indonesia Reel
Extreme weekend weather across Asia has killed more than 900 people and displaced millions, with Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia suffering historic flooding. Elon Musk announced Starlink availability in affected parts of Sumatra through December to support emergency communications. Newsweek

=== Monday, December 8 === 

‘Reckless Decision’: Transat Blasts Pilots’ Strike Call, Begins Suspending Flights
Transat says that an “orderly suspension of operations” will begin today (Monday) after the airline’s pilots said they are prepared to strike as early as 3 a.m. Wednesday morning if a labour agreement between the sides is not reached. A complete suspension of flights will be in effect by Dec. 9, the company said. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued a 72-hour notice (required by law) on Sunday, threatening a labour disruption on the cusp of the busy holiday travel season. Travel Industry Today

Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Delayed at World’s Busiest Airport
A dense fog advisory forced a ground stop at the world’s busiest airport Sunday, delaying hundreds of flights and leading to cancellations. FlightAware showed more than 1,500 delays and more than 200 cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday. The impacts appear to have trickled in to Monday. As of 7:30 a.m., there have been at least 134 cancellations and 112 delays per FlightAware. Yahoo

Man Arrested After Number of People Believed to Have Been Pepper-Sprayed at Heathrow
A number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be a form of pepper spray by a group of men, the Metropolitan Police says. A man in the car park tells the BBC that people were coughing and he felt a burning sensation at the back of his throat. BBC News

Northern Lights Could Be Visible in a Dozen States. See Where.
Major solar activity could make the northern lights visible in more than a dozen states this week. According to an alert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, are expected to reach Earth around mid-day on Dec. 9, likely causing increased geomagnetic activity. According to NOAA’s forecasted view line, the aurora could potentially be visible in the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington, and Wisconsin. MSN

MLK Day Removed From Free National Park Days, Trump’s Birthday Added
The National Park Service (NPS) announced the 2026 schedule of fee free days and the changes are controversial. Two long standing free days that honored Black history and civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth National Independence Day, have been removed. In their place is Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14, also celebrated as Flag Day. JohnnyJet.com

National Parks to Pull DEI-Type Items From Gift Shops
National parks have been ordered to check their gift shops for items that support programs like diversity, equity and inclusion and remove them. According to an Interior Department memo obtained by the nonprofit advocacy group National Parks Conservation Association, parks have until Dec. 19 to review all retail items sold at on-site outlets run by partner associations and concessionaires. USA Today

Royal Air Maroc Adds Flights to LAX for the World Cup
Los Angeles is about to get a lot closer to Africa in a manner of speaking. Royal Air Maroc plans to launch service from Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, Morocco, to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) starting in June. It will be LAX’s only nonstop passenger service to Africa. The Points Guy

Fire Rips Through Indian Nightclub Killing at Least 25 Including Several Tourists
A nightclub fire in the popular Indian resort region of Goa has killed at least 25 people including four tourists, officials said. The state’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the fire was started by indoor fireworks at the nightclub in Arpora village around midnight on Saturday local time, CNN affiliate News18 reported. CNN

Public Urged Not to Eat Bananas That Washed Ashore From Cruise Ship
Sixteen shipping containers filled with fruit plunged into the sea off the Isle of Wight, forcing a cruise ship to delay its departure. The P&O Cruises vessel Iona, with a capacity for 5,200 holidaymakers, was due to depart Southampton on Saturday for a 14-day voyage to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. The incident left the ship stranded until it received clearance to sail Sunday lunchtime. The Independent

Luxury Hotels Need to Have ‘A Point of View’ to Attract Visitors Hungry for Experiences, Says Designer André Fu
Travel destinations the world over are struggling with a new kind of traveler: a younger millennial or Gen Z tourist hungry for experiences rather than cookie-cutter hotels. Today’s tourists are “looking for a point of view,” interior designer André Fu explained at the Fortune Brainstorm Design conference in Macau on Tuesday. In other words, they are looking for a specific atmosphere or design ethos in choosing where to stay or eat. Fortune

Bangkok Is the World’s Most Visited City But Badly Behaved Tourists Are Creating Problems in Asia
Forget Miss Universe, Paris is the travel world’s pageant queen this week, having been named the most attractive city on the planet for the fifth year in a row. The Top 100 City Destinations Index by data analytics company Euromonitor International looks at leading cities from around the world and ranks them on criteria including tourism, sustainability, economic performance and health and safety. CNN

US Waives $11 Million Southwest Airlines Fine Imposed Over 2022 Holiday Meltdown
The Trump administration said Saturday it will waive an $11 million fine imposed on Southwest Airlines as part of a $140 million settlement over the carrier’s meltdown in December 2022 during a busy holiday travel period. Southwest in December 2023 agreed to provide over three years to pay a $35 million cash fine and provide $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more to passengers delayed at least three hours getting to final destinations because of an airline-caused issue or cancellation over the airline’s handling of the meltdown that stranded more than 2 million passengers. Reuters

=== December 1 to 7 ===  

TSA Announces $45 Fee For Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026
If you are planning to fly next year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an important update. Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who do not have an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have the option to pay a $45 fee to use TSA Confirm.ID, a modernized identity verification system at airport security checkpoints. Johnny Jet

TSA Sets New Travel Record For Most Individuals Screened On A Single Day
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually the busiest travel day of the year and this year was no exception. In fact, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just broke their all-time record yesterday. Johnny Jet

Airbus Says Most Of Its Recalled 6,000 A320 Jets Now Modified
Airbus fleets were returning towards normal operations on Monday after the European planemaker pushed through abrupt software changes faster than expected, averting a prolonged crisis over the discovery of a space-related computer bug. Dozens of airlines from Asia to the United States said they had carried out a snap software retrofit ordered by Airbus, and mandated by global regulators, after a vulnerability to solar flares emerged in a recent mid-air incident on a JetBlue A320. Reuters

Thousands Of U.S. Flight Delays, Hundreds Of Cancellations, After Thanksgiving
Travelers around the United States faced delays at major airports during the busy holiday weekend, as winter weather disrupted airlines’ schedules and software issues temporarily grounded a popular plane model in the days after Thanksgiving. CBS News

NPS cuts free entry for MLK Day and Juneteenth, add Trump’s birthday
In 2026, Americans will get free admission to national parks on President Donald Trump’s birthday but no longer on Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to the National Park Service website. Previously, the National Park Service included these two federal holidays among its free-entry days for its 116 parks. USA Today

US Senators Want Airlines To Pay Passengers Cash For Long Delays
A group of 15 Democratic senators proposed legislation Thursday to require airlines to provide cash compensation if carriers cause significant delays. The senators led by Mark Kelly, Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal are proposing to mandate compensation in line with European Union and Canadian requirements, including mandating at least $300 for a delay of more than three hours and at least $600 for a delay of six hours or more. Reuters

Delta Says Government Shutdown Cost It $200 Million, But Forecasts Strong Travel Demand Into 2026
Delta said the government shutdown that ended last month cost it $200 million in earnings. The carrier said bookings weakened during the shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The Trump administration required airlines to trim their schedules during the shutdown when air traffic controller staffing shortages worsened. CNBC

Chicago Weighs Overhaul Of O’Hare Expansion Plan Amid Soaring Traffic
O’Hare International Airport is hitting record traffic levels, triggering the city to reevaluate its ongoing renovation project. The big picture: A new report published by the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University points out that O’Hare had the most growth of any U.S. airport in 2024. ABC News

Trump Says He’s Rebuilding Dulles Airport While His Administration Is Fixing the ‘People Movers’
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration will embark on a reconstruction of Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. “We’re also going to rebuild Dulles Airport because it’s not a good airport,” Trump said during a meeting of his Cabinet members at the White House. “It should be a great airport, and it’s not a good airport at all. It’s a terrible airport.” NBC News

Search for Long-Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 to Resume
The search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume on 30 December, over a decade after the aircraft with 239 people on board vanished, Malaysian authorities have said. This fresh search, which will run for 55 days, had begun in March but was suspended shortly after because of poor weather conditions. BBC

Delta Air Lines issues ground stop for its flights at Detroit airport
Delta Air Lines issued a ground stop for all its flights at Detroit airport on Friday, citing a technical connectivity issue. A ground stop is an air traffic control measure that temporarily halts flights from departing for a specific airport or region, usually due to safety, weather or operational issues. Reuters

Transat Pilots Strike Threat Before Holidays ‘Very Real’
The union representing Air Transat pilots says an overwhelming mandate of 99% has been given for a strike if the company fails to deliver what it deems a “modern contract.” The earliest a strike is legally permitted to be declared is Dec. 10 – just in time for the holidays. Vote results were announced Dec. 2 and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) said 98% of its 700 Transat pilots cast ballots with Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair, stating, “This vote sends an undeniable message to Air Transat management: We are unified, resolute, and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015.” Travel Industry Today

=== Friday, December 5 === 

Delta Air Lines issues ground stop for its flights at Detroit airport
Delta Air Lines issued a ground stop for all its flights at Detroit airport on Friday, citing a technical connectivity issue. A ground stop is an air traffic control measure that temporarily halts flights from departing for a specific airport or region, usually due to safety, weather or operational issues. Reuters

Edinburgh Airport Suspends All Flights
Edinburgh airport suspended all flights after an air traffic control outage. The IT issue happened at about 8.30am on Friday, leaving some passengers stranded in planes on the runway. No flights departed or arrived at the airport for around two hours before the problem was eventually fixed. The Telegraph

Airlines Face Steep Fines As FAA Investigates Missed Flight Reductions
The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines this week that it is investigating their compliance with an emergency flight-reduction order issued during the government shutdown. It said the companies are at risk of steep financial penalties if they did not trim their schedules as requested. USA Today

TSA Urges Travelers To Avoid Two Tempting Airport Freebies
Look across any airport boarding area and you’ll see travelers scrolling through their phones and charging their devices before flights, but federal authorities have urged travelers to be careful on both counts. “Hackers can install malware at USB ports,” the Transportation Safety Administration posted on Facebook earlier in 2025. “So, when you’re at an airport do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there.” USA Today

Grand Canyon Cancels Overnight Stays At South Rim Lodges Because Of Water-Line Breaks
Plans to stay and soak in the wintry wonderland at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim? You will have to wait. Visitors won’t be able to stay overnight in the national park’s oldest hotel or its lodges starting Saturday because of multiple breaks in the park’s only water line. With no water being pumped to the South Rim, park officials say the limited resources need to be conserved. AP

Tara Reid’s Drink Not Drugged At Hotel In Rosemont, Police Say
Police investigating the alleged drugging incident involving Tara Reid at a Chicago-area hotel have found that no criminal act was committed against the actress. Rosemont police say detectives reviewed surveillance video from the north suburban area Doubletree Hotel. While it did show Reid at the hotel bar, it did not show anyone tampering with or adding anything to her drink. NewsNation

UPS Put Profits Over Safety Before Plane Crash That Killed 14, Lawyer Alleges
A deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky stemmed from corporate choices that favored profits over safety, according to a lawyer who filed two wrongful death lawsuits Wednesday, which allege the company kept flying older aircraft without increasing maintenance beyond what’s regularly scheduled. AP

All The New Travel Rules In Europe For 2025: Border Checks, Tourist Taxes And Behavior Crackdowns
It’s been a bumper year for travel changes in Europe, with controls tightening around everything from borders to mass tourism. To preserve the peace between residents and visitors, destinations have introduced new rules and regulations impacting travel preparations, conduct and prices. For those entering the EU, there are now extra checks as the bloc digitises its borders. EuroNews

Plane Vs Train: London-Paris Flights To Take On Eurostar
As Eurostar celebrates 31 years of a monopoly on passenger rail through the Channel Tunnel from London to Paris, airlines are stepping up flights between the two capitals in a bid to tempt travellers away from trains. By spring 2026, there will be more than 50 flights a day between five London airports and two Paris hubs. The Independent

Trump’s Face On National Parks Pass Is Illegal, Experts Say
The announcement that the 2026 America the Beautiful Passes will feature President Donald Trump, along with other nontraditional designs, prompted vehement reactions across social media last week. Amid the barrage of puke emojis and promises to tape over the president’s face or “improve” it with marker, it’s now possible to find guides on how to avoid the pass altogether as well as breakdowns on why you should continue to buy physical passes over the newly released digital ones (hint: most of the money from direct sales stays within the parks where the passes are sold). SF Gate

Heathrow To Fine Drivers £80 For Overly Long Farewells
People who take too long to bid farewell to loved ones at Heathrow face an £80 fine for overstaying their welcome. A new 10-minute limit for unloading bags and wishing passengers a safe journey at Britain’s busiest airport will leave no time for drawn-out goodbyes. The cap will be introduced for drivers at Heathrow’s forecourts from January as part of a shake-up that will push drop-off charges up from £6 to £7 in an inflation-busting 17pc increase. The Telegraph

A Food Tour Of The World—Without Ever Leaving The NYC Borough Of Queens
New York City’s Times Square is sometimes referred to as the “Crossroads of the World.” But if the meeting point for humanity is a patch of pavement just outside an Applebee’s, where you might find a barely dressed cowboy arguing with a grown man in an Elmo suit, the world deserves better. WSJ

Why No Hurricanes Made Landfall In The US In 2025
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season proved to be consequential, even though no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S for the first time since 2015. Three Category 5 hurricanes formed during this past hurricane season, tying for the second-most on record in the Atlantic basin. The only other season that saw more Category 5 storms was in 2005, when there were four Category 5 storms. ABC News

=== Thursday, December 4 === 

US Senators Want Airlines To Pay Passengers Cash For Long Delays
A group of 15 Democratic senators proposed legislation Thursday to require airlines to provide cash compensation if carriers cause significant delays. The senators led by Mark Kelly, Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal are proposing to mandate compensation in line with European Union and Canadian requirements, including mandating at least $300 for a delay of more than three hours and at least $600 for a delay of six hours or more. Reuters

Delta Says Government Shutdown Cost It $200 Million, But Forecasts Strong Travel Demand Into 2026
Delta said the government shutdown that ended last month cost it $200 million in earnings. The carrier said bookings weakened during the shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The Trump administration required airlines to trim their schedules during the shutdown when air traffic controller staffing shortages worsened. CNBC

Chicago Weighs Overhaul Of O’Hare Expansion Plan Amid Soaring Traffic
O’Hare International Airport is hitting record traffic levels, triggering the city to reevaluate its ongoing renovation project. The big picture: A new report published by the Chaddick Institute at DePaul University points out that O’Hare had the most growth of any U.S. airport in 2024. ABC News

India’s IndiGo Cancels 175 Flights As Pilot Shortage Crisis Enters Third Day
At least 175 IndiGo flights were cancelled early on Thursday in India as chaos at key airports worsened, after stringent government regulations on crew safety norms threw roster planning at the country’s largest airline into disarray. The disruptions have left thousands of travellers stranded for three days now. IndiGo, which has a domestic market share of more than 60%, on Wednesday cancelled at least 150 flights across major cities. Reuters

Cosmic Rays From Distant Supernova May Have Caused JetBlue Flight To Drop Mid-Air, Expert Says
A space and radiation expert claims a JetBlue flight incident that left at least 15 people hospitalized may have been caused by “cosmic rays.” The statement contradicts an explanation from Airbus, the plane’s manufacturer, which cited “solar radiation” as the cause. Clive Dyer, the expert at the University of Surrey, told Space.com solar activity was insignificant the day of the incident. People

Frontier Offers Limited-Time Fast-Track To Elite Status
Are you a frequent Frontier Airlines flyer — or do you expect to be next year? If so, you won’t want to skip this deal! Frontier Airlines on Tuesday announced a special limited-time promotion offering passengers a fast track to several tiers of elite status after as few as two round-trip flights. The Points Guy

Transat Pilots Strike Threat Before Holidays ‘Very Real’
The union representing Air Transat pilots says an overwhelming mandate of 99% has been given for a strike if the company fails to deliver what it deems a “modern contract.” The earliest a strike is legally permitted to be declared is Dec. 10 – just in time for the holidays. Vote results were announced Dec. 2 and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) said 98% of its 700 Transat pilots cast ballots with Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair, stating, “This vote sends an undeniable message to Air Transat management: We are unified, resolute, and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015.” Travel Industry Today

AirTag Helps Locate Labrador Swept Out To Sea As Lifeguards Pull Off Miraculous Rescue
A black lab-mix who disappeared in San Diego was rescued after authorities found her swept out to sea by a rip current. A surfer at Ocean Beach alerted the San Diego Fire Department lifeguards Sunday that he saw a dog in the Mission Bay channel, launching an hour long search with jet skis to get her back to shore, the San Diego Fire Department said in a Facebook video. ABC News

The Country In Southern Europe That Tourists Don’t Yet Know About
Spiked with ridges and peaks that deliver scenery running the full four-seasons gamut — from electric green slopes to snow-capped crags — North Macedonia offers one of Southern Europe’s final chances to take the path less-traveled. Previously known as Macedonia after declaring its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, North Macedonia is an underexplored pocket of the Balkans whose layered history has combined with its mountains to produce regional cultures with strong traditions and warm hospitality. CNN

Bay Area Bridge Tolls Will Rise In January. Here’s How Much More They Will Cost
At 88 years old, the Bay Bridge needs extensive repair: paint, new fenders, cable inspections. Maintenance costs are rising for the bridge and six other state-owned spans. Policymakers will again ask motorists to pay more. SF Chronicle

Missing American Cruise Ship Passenger Ann Evans Found By Police
An American woman reported missing for more than a week on a Caribbean island has been found. Ann Evans, 55, had disembarked the cruise ship Rotterdam for an island tour at Port St. Maarten when she went missing, police said. KRON

12 Myths Air Travelers Should Stop Believing
Ensuring you’re working with accurate travel information is key for anyone on a budget or seeking to reduce stress. Busting these myths can help people, especially those with anxiety, travel smarter and more affordably. AARP

=== Wednesday, December 3 === 

Trump Says He’s Rebuilding Dulles Airport While His Administration Is Fixing the ‘People Movers’
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration will embark on a reconstruction of Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia. “We’re also going to rebuild Dulles Airport because it’s not a good airport,” Trump said during a meeting of his Cabinet members at the White House. “It should be a great airport, and it’s not a good airport at all. It’s a terrible airport.” NBC News

Search for Long-Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 to Resume
The search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will resume on 30 December, over a decade after the aircraft with 239 people on board vanished, Malaysian authorities have said. This fresh search, which will run for 55 days, had begun in March but was suspended shortly after because of poor weather conditions. BBC

Security Alert for Costa Rica Warns of Gangs, ‘Break-Ins and Armed Robberies’
A troubling spike in gang-related robberies, break-ins and extortion crimes in Costa Rica has forced the US to declare a tourist travel alert for the Central American country. The US Embassy in San Jose urged caution for Americans traveling to the popular vacation destination in a Nov. 25 security alert — urging travelers to be more vigilant, spend less time online and carry fewer cash and valuables. NY Post

Emirates Flight Cancelled After Contact With Fuel Truck
An Emirates aircraft was grounded at Manchester Airport after being struck by a fuel truck last Friday. The parked Airbus A380 was hit by the ground vehicle at the gate while preparing to depart for Dubai, damaging one of its engine covers. Flight EK18, the plane’s scheduled return journey to Dubai International Airport, was consequently cancelled, with the aircraft grounded for more than two days. The Independent

Disneyland to Debut Bluey Experience With Games, Music and More
Bluey is finally coming to Disneyland. After years of requests by fans of the namesake cartoon, the beloved blue heeler and her sister Bingo will make their park debut in March, instead of this year, as Disney previously announced. Fantasyland Theatre will transform into Bluey’s school for a new interactive experience called Bluey’s Best Day Ever! featuring adventures in a life-sized Gnome Village and Fairy Garden, music, games and more from the Australian show, Disneyland shared Dec. 2. USA Today

A Man Called In a Bomb Threat to New Orleans Airport After He Couldn’t Pay for Parking
A man has been charged with making a bomb threat after he couldn’t pay for airport parking. The 35-year-old Louisiana native was arrested at New Orleans airport last month. “We have the bomb,” he told an airport phone operator during a “threatening” call. Business Insider

JetBlue Announces Five New Routes From San Juan
JetBlue, Puerto Rico’s largest airline, announced a major expansion of its San Juan (SJU) focus city with the launch of five new nonstop routes to Philadelphia (PHL), Jacksonville (JAX), Norfolk (ORF), Richmond (RIC), and Buffalo (BUF). Beginning in spring 2026, the airline will operate year-round service to all five markets. JetBlue Airways Corporation

Robert Irwin Announces ‘Passion Project’ at Australia Zoo After ‘DWTS’ Win
The wildlife conservationist, 22, shared on Instagram that he is “heading back home” to work with the Crocodile Hunter Lodge at the Australia Zoo, which opened in 2022. He described the lodge as a passion project aimed at welcoming visitors “to our home.” People

Delta Air Lines Launches Its Largest Transatlantic Schedule in History
Delta Air Lines announced over 650 weekly flights to nearly 30 European destinations for summer 2026 — the carrier’s largest transatlantic schedule ever — connecting travelers to beaches, cafes, markets, museums and more across the continent. Parade

Airbus Finds Another Issue Affecting Its Best-Selling A320 Passenger Planes
Airbus has identified an issue affecting a limited number of metal panels in some A320 aircraft, prompting inspections for potentially impacted planes. Only a portion are expected to require further action. CNN

Surfer Denied Refund After Airline Totally Destroys Boards
A surfer was denied a refund after an airline severely damaged his surfboards, highlighting the financial risks travelers face when checking expensive gear. Surfer

How Hollywood Helped Build the Air Travel Industry
Hollywood and Los Angeles played a significant role in advancing aviation, including through Shirley Temple’s 1934 film Bright Eyes, where “On the Good Ship Lollipop” was sung aboard an airplane at Glendale’s Grand Central Air Terminal. LA Times

=== Tuesday, December 2 === 

Winter Storm Dropping Heavy Snow on the Northeast
A fast-moving winter storm dumped several inches of snow across parts of the Midwest where it killed one driver, caused hundreds of crashes and slowed travel to a crawl. It’s now delivering the first widespread snow of the season to the Northeast and eventually New England. • Philadelphia, New York and Boston will miss out on heavy snow, but the Interior Northeast and New England could see up to 10 inches of it. • The storm will strengthen rapidly into a bomb cyclone with gusty winds as it moves up the New England coast, but Atlantic Canada is most at risk from the strongest winds. CNN

New Jersey Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Season’s 1st Major Winter Storm
Tens of millions of Americans are under alert for wintry weather, as a new cross-country system is expected to bring the first major winter storm of the season to parts of the East Coast. After dumping snow on parts of the central U.S. on Monday, the storm is expected to bring accumulating snow and icy conditions into New England, where winter storm warnings are in effect across the region, from Albany, New York, to Portland, Maine. ABC News

Noem Says She Met With Trump, Recommended Full Travel Ban
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that she recommended a “full travel ban” to President Trump during a Monday meeting. “I just met with the President. I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that’s been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” Noem said Monday on the social platform X. The Hill

Houston to Gain First Direct Flight to Rome as ITA Airways Adds New Route Starting in May 2026
Mayor John Whitmire on Tuesday announced the city’s first direct air service to Rome, calling the new ITA Airways route a “statement” about Houston’s rising global profile and a long-awaited milestone for the region’s business, cultural and academic communities. ITA Airways CEO Jörg Eberhart and U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta called into the press conference to make the announcement with Whitmire, who said the new service from Bush Intercontinental Airport marks the first time in history that Houston will have nonstop access to the Italian capital. Houston Chronicle

Passengers Flying From Rome to London Ended Up in Germany, Then Back in Rome, Before Finally Getting to Their Destination 10 Hours Late
A flight from Rome to London tried and failed three times to land in high winds. It diverted to Cologne, Germany, before going back to Rome. The plane finally touched down at London Luton Airport 10 hours later than planned. Business Insider

Canadian Air Passenger Traffic to U.S. Down for 9th Consecutive Month
For the ninth consecutive month, fewer passengers at Canadian airports are heading to the United States amid the trade war. New data from Statistics Canada shows total Canadian air passenger traffic in October was up by 4.5 percent to five million travellers from the same time last year, but the number of people on U.S.-bound trips is down 8.9 percent to 1.2 million travellers. Global News

The End of the Middle-Class Traveler in Hawaii Is Near
The dream of a Hawaii vacation is quickly slipping away as rising costs are pricing out middle-class travelers. What was once considered an attainable trip for many is quickly becoming a luxury reserved for the few. Resort fees are climbing, and hotel rates are soaring, with lodging prices doubling in some areas since 2019, pushing lower earners to the side. At the same time, Hawaii’s tourism agency is focusing its efforts on attracting fewer, higher-spending visitors, furthering the divide. In September, visitors were spending an average of $270 per person per day on lodging, food, entertainment and shopping, up from $196 per day in 2019. SF Gate

Ryanair Is Axing All Routes to the Azores From March 2026
Ryanair has announced it will axe all of its routes to and from the autonomous Portuguese islands, nicknamed the “Hawaii of Europe” for their volcanic landscape, waterfalls and lush greenery. The airline will cease its routes to the archipelago on March 29, 2026, cutting around 400,000 seats in total. Timeout

Delta Flight to Detroit Makes Emergency Landing in Japan
A Delta Air Lines flight from China to the U.S. was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan after crew members identified several hydraulic issues that could affect the landing gear. The Airbus A350, operating Flight 388, departed Shanghai for Detroit but diverted to Tokyo less than two hours into the flight. “The aircraft landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans,” a Delta spokesperson said. Daily Beast

Four Seasons San Francisco Sold to Blackstone for $130M
Blackstone has closed its acquisition of the 277-room Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at 757 Market Street, long regarded as one of the city’s premier luxury hotels. The sale marks another sign of momentum in the city’s uneven but recovering hospitality market, the company confirmed Monday. SF Chronicle

Trump Administration to Rebuild Washington’s Dulles Airport
President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Tuesday that the administration plans to rebuild Dulles International Airport in Virginia, calling the current facility inadequate. “We’re also going to rebuild Dulles airport, because it’s not a good airport. It should be a great airport,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting. Reuters

The Airport-Lounge Wars
Airport lounges increasingly signal levels of exclusivity, with offerings ranging from simple snacks to personal butlers. Priority Pass visits rose 31 percent last year, and at JFK, lounge space in Terminal 4 alone expanded to roughly 70,000 square feet—about the size of Bill Gates’s Xanadu 2.0. The New Yorker

=== Monday, December 1 === 

TSA Sets New Travel Record For Most Individuals Screened On A Single Day
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually the busiest travel day of the year and this year was no exception. In fact, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) just broke their all-time record yesterday. Johnny Jet

TSA Announces $45 Fee For Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 2026
If you are planning to fly next year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has an important update. Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who do not have an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have the option to pay a $45 fee to use TSA Confirm.ID, a modernized identity verification system at airport security checkpoints. Johnny Jet

Airbus Says Most Of Its Recalled 6,000 A320 Jets Now Modified
Airbus fleets were returning towards normal operations on Monday after the European planemaker pushed through abrupt software changes faster than expected, averting a prolonged crisis over the discovery of a space-related computer bug. Dozens of airlines from Asia to the United States said they had carried out a snap software retrofit ordered by Airbus, and mandated by global regulators, after a vulnerability to solar flares emerged in a recent mid-air incident on a JetBlue A320. Reuters

More Snow And Ice For Midwest, Northeast: Another Winter Storm Threatens Fresh Travel Headaches For Areas Already Hit Hard Over The Holiday Weekend
A new, quick-hitting winter storm is piling onto travel woes and shoveling duties Monday in parts of the central US that were buried over the weekend, but its next chapter could be its most notable. The storm will strengthen rapidly into a bomb cyclone as it tracks up the East Coast to Atlantic Canada and brings the first widespread snow and ice of the season to parts of the Northeast Tuesday. CNN

Thousands Of U.S. Flight Delays, Hundreds Of Cancellations, After Thanksgiving
Travelers around the United States faced delays at major airports during the busy holiday weekend, as winter weather disrupted airlines’ schedules and software issues temporarily grounded a popular plane model in the days after Thanksgiving. CBS News

Chicago Winter Storm Remains A Problem On Busiest Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Day At Airports
Sunday was expected to be the biggest travel day of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at O’Hare International Airport, and the winter storm that socked the area this weekend has been more than disruptive. As of Sunday morning, more than 1,500 flights had been canceled at Midway and O’Hare international airports. As of Sunday afternoon, there had been 300 additional cancellations, and there were delays of 49 minutes at O’Hare and eight cancellations at Midway. CBS Chicago

Sean Duffy Longs For The ‘Golden Days’ Of Air Travel. What Was That Like?
When Pan Am introduced its first jetliner, a Boeing 707 named “America,” with an inaugural flight on Oct. 26, 1958, a marching band performed for the 111 passengers who followed a red carpet to their Paris-bound plane. The women on the tarmac at Idlewild Airport, now John F. Kennedy International in New York, wore heels and pearls. Men wore suits and hats. The New York Times

With Consumers Pulling Back A Bit, Lines Fall Short Of Wall Street Expectations
The cruise sector may be known for its resilience to economic headwinds, but it’s not entirely immune to broader macroeconomic trends. Two of the largest cruise companies missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations for the third quarter, and analysts say it has to do with general consumer pullback on spending in the midst of economic pressures this year. Travel Weekly

Fewer International Students Are Enrolling At U.S. Colleges, Which Could Cost The Country $1 Billion
In the fall 2025 semester, new international student enrollment at U.S. institutions fell 17%, largely due to visa restrictions and government policies, according to a recent report. There are steep economic consequences to having fewer students from abroad, other reports also show. CNBC

Mystery As Man, 68, And Younger Woman Found Dead At Luxury Casino
A senior man and a much younger woman were discovered dead inside a luxurious Atlantic City casino last Sunday, according to police. Wei Guo Liang, 68, and Baoyi Bowie Zheng, 36, were found dead by police officers in their room at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa at about 4.55pm on November 23, the prosecutors office said. Autopsies determined that the woman, Zheng, died from a broken neck, while the man, Liang, died from self-inflicted stab wounds, the office added. Daily Mail

Louvre Museum Raises Ticket Prices For Non-EU Visitors To Fund Renovation
Paris’ Louvre museum has approved a ticket hike from 22 to 32 euros ($25 to $37) for non-European visitors from January to help finance an overhaul of the building whose degradation has been exposed by the Oct. 19 crown jewels heist. The measure comes as other major cultural sites across the country, including the Palace of Versailles, are considering similar moves to bring extra money needed for costly maintenance and renovation. AP News

FAA Ground Delay Causes Holdups For Austin Flights
Flights headed into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are facing average delays of about 95 minutes Sunday under a Federal Aviation Administration ground delay program. The program, triggered by air-traffic staffing issues, covers all departures from the contiguous U.S. bound for Austin, including flights leaving major centers like Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New York and Houston. Those flights are being temporarily held at their origin airports. The maximum delay will be just over three hours, according to the advisory. Austin American-Statesman