WEATHER ALERT
US government orders big US airlines to explain their frequent-flyer programs
Read full article: US government orders big US airlines to explain their frequent-flyer programsThe Biden administration is looking into airline frequent-flyer programs and whether they devalue points that consumers have earned.
Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekend
Read full article: Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekendAirports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed across the U.S. this Labor Day weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.
Florida beats Texas 10-7 in Little League World Series semifinal and will face Taiwan for title
Read full article: Florida beats Texas 10-7 in Little League World Series semifinal and will face Taiwan for titleLuis Calo hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning as Lake Mary, Florida, beat Boerne, Texas, 10-7 on Saturday in a wild game that sent the Southeast region representative to the Little League World Series championship.
Lake Mary All-Stars fans watch first World Series loss at viewing party
Read full article: Lake Mary All-Stars fans watch first World Series loss at viewing partyFans filled Friend Confines once again to support the Lake Mary All-Stars as they faced off against Texas from the Southwest region in the Little League World Series.
Safety regulators are investigating another low flight by a Southwest jet, this time in Florida
Read full article: Safety regulators are investigating another low flight by a Southwest jet, this time in FloridaFederal officials are investigating an incident in which a Southwest Airlines jet flew as low as 150 feet over water while it was still about 5 miles from its intended landing spot in Tampa, Florida.
Higher costs and low base fares send Delta's profit down 29%. The airline still earned $1.31 billion
Read full article: Higher costs and low base fares send Delta's profit down 29%. The airline still earned $1.31 billionAmericans are traveling in record numbers this summer, but Delta Air Lines says it saw second-quarter profit drop 29% due to higher costs and discounting of base-level fares across the industry.
Residents and communities preparing for heat wave that will envelop Midwest and Northeast next week
Read full article: Residents and communities preparing for heat wave that will envelop Midwest and Northeast next weekA heat wave will bring dangerously hot temperatures to the Midwest and Northeast next week, with health officials urging people to make plans now to stay safe.
Orlando-bound flight has close call with jet starting takeoff at Reagan National Airport
Read full article: Orlando-bound flight has close call with jet starting takeoff at Reagan National AirportAn Orlando-bound flight completed its trip Thursday from Virginia’s Ronald Reagan National Airport after avoiding a collision on the runway with a jet that was starting its takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Major airlines want to hear how Boeing plans to fix problems in the manufacturing of its planes
Read full article: Major airlines want to hear how Boeing plans to fix problems in the manufacturing of its planesThe heads of leading U.S. airlines want to meet with Boeing and hear the aircraft manufacturer’s strategy for fixing quality-control problems that have gained attention since a panel blew out of a jetliner in January.
More than 1,000 flights already cancelled due to storm, was one of them yours? Here's what to do
Read full article: More than 1,000 flights already cancelled due to storm, was one of them yours? Here's what to doA nasty storm with 60 mph winds is raking parts of the Northeast creating dangerous conditions on the road and it's leading to a lot of cancelled flights.
Safety officials release details of their investigation into a close call between planes in Texas
Read full article: Safety officials release details of their investigation into a close call between planes in TexasSafety officials are releasing details of their investigation into a close call between a FedEx plane and a Southwest Airlines jet earlier this year in Austin, Texas.
US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekend
Read full article: US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekendA record number of passengers traveled through U.S. airports over Thanksgiving weekend, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.
American Airlines flight attendants ask for permission to strike. Southwest pilots could be next
Read full article: American Airlines flight attendants ask for permission to strike. Southwest pilots could be nextAmerican Airlines flight attendants are asking federal officials for the right to go on strike, possibly before the end of the Christmas and New Year’s travel rush, but American said there was “no possibility” of a walkout over the holidays.
For novelists of Westerns, Cormac McCarthy transcended — and reinvented — the genre
Read full article: For novelists of Westerns, Cormac McCarthy transcended — and reinvented — the genreIn his obituaries, Cormac McCarthy has been widely praised as a descendant of William Faulkner and Herman Melville among others, those excavators of the American spirit whose biblically influenced prose raised narratives to tragic and poetic heights.
Florida flight returns to Cuba after bird strike causes engine fire
Read full article: Florida flight returns to Cuba after bird strike causes engine fireA flight to Florida from Cuba was forced to turn back Sunday after it struck birds that caused an engine to catch fire and filled the cabin with smoke.
Southwest pilots, other workers to get bonus pay for working during holiday meltdown
Read full article: Southwest pilots, other workers to get bonus pay for working during holiday meltdownSouthwest Airlines is giving its pilots an estimated $45 million in “bonus pay” for working during the company’s holiday meltdown.
Southwest promises changes after holiday travel chaos. Here’s the plan
Read full article: Southwest promises changes after holiday travel chaos. Here’s the planAfter cancelations and delays over the holidays, Southwest Airlines is promising its customers changes to avoid the same issues in the future.
Southwest Airlines attendants picket for better pay at Orlando International Airport
Read full article: Southwest Airlines attendants picket for better pay at Orlando International AirportAttendants with Southwest Airlines will be picketing at Orlando International Airport, demanding better pay and improved work quality.
Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winter
Read full article: Drought, fire risk to stay high during third La Niña winterFederal weather officials say drought and wildfire risks will remain elevated in the western states while warmer than average temperatures will greet the Southwest, Gulf Coast and East Coast this winter.
US airlines ask Biden ‘to recognize the reality’ and terminate mask policy
Read full article: US airlines ask Biden ‘to recognize the reality’ and terminate mask policyIn the letter, the heads of Jet Blue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and others said the requirement is “no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.”
Flights delayed, canceled at Orlando International Airport, leaving thousands stranded
Read full article: Flights delayed, canceled at Orlando International Airport, leaving thousands strandedSeveral flights were delayed or cancelled at Orlando International Airport on Sunday, leaving many passengers frustrated.
Southwest passenger refusing to wear mask arrested after threatening Orlando police, officers say
Read full article: Southwest passenger refusing to wear mask arrested after threatening Orlando police, officers sayA Louisiana man was taken off a Southwest flight at Orlando International Airport Thursday after he reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, according to an arrest affidavit.
EXPLAINER: Why was holiday-season flying such a nightmare?
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why was holiday-season flying such a nightmare?A forecast of better weather means that the worst may finally be over for tens of thousands of air travelers who were grounded by flight cancellations that skyrocketed over the New Year’s Day weekend.
Brief, global internet outages blamed on software bug
Read full article: Brief, global internet outages blamed on software bugA software bug at a major network provider briefly knocked offline dozens of financial institutions, airlines and other companies across the globe during peak Asian business hours.
Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airports
Read full article: Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airportsThe airline industry’s recovery from the pandemic passed a milestone as more than 2 million people streamed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Friday for the first time since early March 2020.
Woman attacks Southwest flight attendant during flight, knocking out her teeth, official says
Read full article: Woman attacks Southwest flight attendant during flight, knocking out her teeth, official saysA Southwest Airlines flight attendant lost two teeth when she was attacked by a passenger this weekend, and the president of her union calls it part of a disturbing increase in unruly passengers.
New Mexico tribes sue US over federal clean water rule
Read full article: New Mexico tribes sue US over federal clean water ruleThe pueblos of Jemez and Laguna are the latest to raise concerns over inadequate protections for local water sources in the desert Southwest. Jemez Pueblo covers mountainous and desert regions in northern New Mexico. The rule change, which took effect in June, narrowed the types of waterways that qualify for federal protection under the half-century-old Clean Water Act. New Mexico was among the states that went to court last May seeking to prevent the rule from taking effect. Jemez Pueblo depends on federal authority under the act to protect waters outside its jurisdiction.
Southwest Airlines orders 100 Boeing 737 Max planes
Read full article: Southwest Airlines orders 100 Boeing 737 Max planesFILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 file photo, a worker uses a flashlight to inspect an engine on a Boeing 737 Max 8 built for Southwest Airlines at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. On Monday, mach 29, 2021, Southwest said it's expanding its all-Boeing fleet with an order for 100 737 MAX airplanes. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)NEW YORK – Southwest Airlines said Monday it is expanding its all-Boeing fleet with an order for 100 Max jets instead of buying planes from Europe's Airbus. Southwest ordered the 150-seat 737 Max 7 and expects the first 30 to show up next year. AdCombined with past orders, Chicago-based Boeing is in line to build more than 600 Max 7 and Max 8 jets for Southwest through 2031. American and United had already resumed Max flights, and Alaska Airlines began using the plane too.
Forecast for spring: Nasty drought worsens for much of US
Read full article: Forecast for spring: Nasty drought worsens for much of USAnd nearly all of the continental United States is looking at warmer than normal spring, except for tiny parts of the Pacific Northwest and southeast Alaska, which makes drought worse. “It’s definitely something we’re watching and very concerned about.”NOAA expects the spring drought to hit 74 million people. AdMore than 44% of the nation is in moderate or worse drought, and nearly 18% is in extreme or exceptional drought — all of it west of the Mississippi River. AdWinter and spring wheat crops also have been hit hard by the western drought with 78% of the spring wheat production area in drought conditions, Rippey said. That leaves more of the energy to heat up the air, and the heat makes the drought worse by boosting evaporation.
Most major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flights
Read full article: Most major US airlines ban guns in luggage for DC flightsDelta, United and Alaska airlines said Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 they will bar passengers flying to Washington from putting guns in checked bags. The moves follow the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and politically tinged confrontations on some flights. American Airlines is bringing back a ban on serving alcohol on flights to and from the Washington area — flights go dry starting Saturday through next Thursday. Price also said that it is “a good idea” to prohibit passengers from putting guns in checked bags if they are flying to Washington. Federal law allows passengers to put guns in checked baggage if they are unloaded and in a locked, hard-sided case, although airlines have the discretion to ban guns.
Southwest Airlines warns nearly 7,000 workers of possible furloughs
Read full article: Southwest Airlines warns nearly 7,000 workers of possible furloughs(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)DALLAS – Southwest Airlines warned nearly 7,000 workers on Thursday that they could lose their jobs unless labor unions accept concessions to help the airline cope with a sharp drop in travel caused by the pandemic. The warnings went to 6,828 employees including more than 2,500 ground workers and 1,500 flight attendants represented by the Transport Workers Union and 1,221 pilots, who have their own union. Rivals American Airlines and United Airlines furloughed 32,000 workers between them in October. Jon Weaks, president of the pilots’ union, called the furlough notices “a sad milestone” in Southwest history. Southwest received $3.2 billion in federal aid this spring as its share of the $25 billion allotted by Congress to help airlines cover their labor costs through September.
JetBlue to stop blocking middle seats on flights
Read full article: JetBlue to stop blocking middle seats on flightsAll rights reserved)ORLANDO, Fla. – JetBlue is the latest U.S. airline to announce it will stop blocking seats on flights. The company says it will reduce the number of middle seats it leaves empty starting Dec. 1. [TRENDING: COVID-19 closes early voting location | Can you get COVID-19 twice? Airlines have been blocking seats due to the coronavirus pandemic. Southwest announced last week it will start selling middle seats after Dec. 1.
Southwest to start selling middle seats in December
Read full article: Southwest to start selling middle seats in DecemberSouthwest Airlines took a major financial hit in 2020 and now the company is making a big change in an effort to mitigate further losses. Southwest will start selling every seat on flights starting Dec. 1. Southwest passenger Linda Morsilli is not a fan of the move. “I loved the idea that they had a middle seat vacant,” she said. “Somebody my age, who is very vulnerable, we can’t fly if they have it so crowded.
Southwest to scale back cleanings after flights
Read full article: Southwest to scale back cleanings after flightsAll rights reserved)Southwest Airlines is cutting back on cabin cleaning procedures that were instituted because of the coronavirus pandemic. Scaling it back will mean changes including no longer sanitizing seat belts between flights. The company says cleanings will now focus on a few items like tray tables and lavatories. According to a memo sent to flight attendants, the move will reduce the time planes spend on the ground between flights. Southwest says it will limit plane capacity through the end of October to allow for middle seats to remain empty.
Southwest comes out on top in new airline survey
Read full article: Southwest comes out on top in new airline surveyThe JD Power survey of 10,000 business and leisure travelers was conducted from April 2019 to March 2020. Southwest had the highest satisfaction levels in a number of categories including baggage handling, boarding, check-in, costs and crew. The survey covered both short-haul and long-haul flights and Southwest was on top in both categories. Ironically, before the pandemic, JD Power noted that overall customer satisfaction scores were the highest they had ever recorded. A survey conducted in mid-April shows that now what air travelers value most are regular updates on safety and sanitization measures.
Southwest offering summer fares starting at $49
Read full article: Southwest offering summer fares starting at $49A tempting offer for those itching to travel again, Southwest Airlines is offering one-way fares starting at $49. Feel free to book Southwest flights only if you’re OK flying with some travelers not wearing masks on your flight. An internal memo by Southwest Airlines tells flight crews not to stop passengers from boarding if they refuse to wear a mask. The airline tells flight attendants to inform customers of the policy and ask them to comply, but not enforce it. Southwest's official policy says customers will be asked to wear the masks when social distancing is not possible.
Southwest jetliner hits, kills person during landing
Read full article: Southwest jetliner hits, kills person during landingAUSTIN, Texas – A Southwest Airlines jetliner hit and killed a person upon landing Thursday night at Austin’s main airport, CBS News reported. The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot of Flight 1392 reported seeing a person on the runway shortly after the Boeing 737 touched down at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport statement on tonight's pedestrian fatality. pic.twitter.com/7xjwZq5sCy — Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (@AUStinAirport) May 8, 2020Southwest released a statement about the incident:Southwest flight #1392 arrived safely this evening at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) after being cleared to land on runway 17R. The Southwest aircraft maneuvered to avoid an individual who became visible on runway 17R shortly after touchdown.
These are the precautions airlines are taking to prevent the spread of the coronavirus
Read full article: These are the precautions airlines are taking to prevent the spread of the coronavirusThese are the precautions airlines are taking to prevent the spread of the coronavirusPublished: April 28, 2020, 1:04 pmHere's what airlines are doing to protect passengers and employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
Orlando passenger taken to hospital after becoming sick on Southwest flight
Read full article: Orlando passenger taken to hospital after becoming sick on Southwest flightORLANDO, Fla. – A passenger aboard a Southwest flight traveling from Orlando had flu-like symptoms, prompting an airport to issue a statement about the incident. The Rhode Island Airport Corporation said a sick passenger on Southwest Airlines Flight 153 arrived at T.F. Green Airport from Orlando on Tuesday. “A customer was reportedly experiencing flu-like symptoms, so our crews requested support for the individual from local EMTs. As always, safety is our uncompromising priority, and we follow all CDC reporting guidelines.”It’s not known if the passenger was tested for coronavirus.
Another stormy Florida day for Saturday
Read full article: Another stormy Florida day for SaturdayORLANDO, Fla. – After a very wet Friday, expect another round of rain and storms for Saturday. With high pressure continuing to drag winds in from the Southwest, Central Florida will see another round of storms favoring the eastern half of the state starting up around lunch and remaining unsettled through sundown. Highs across the area will remain near normal in the upper 80s to low 90s before the storms roll in. The rest of the outlook remains seasonal with temperatures in the low 90s and rain chances sitting between 50-60 percent.