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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.
More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surges
Read full article: More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surgesAgents for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Sunday screened 3 million airline passengers in a single day for the first time ever.
The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekend
Read full article: The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekendA long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records.
The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekend
Read full article: The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekendA long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records.
Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airports
Read full article: Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airportsA record was broken ahead of the Memorial Day weekend for the number of airline travelers screened at U.S. airports.
Travelers trying to beat the Memorial Day rush are seeing flight delays and higher prices
Read full article: Travelers trying to beat the Memorial Day rush are seeing flight delays and higher pricesAirlines are struggling to keep flights on time heading into the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but at least cancellations have been relatively modest so far.
Bag of snakes found inside passenger’s pants at Florida airport
Read full article: Bag of snakes found inside passenger’s pants at Florida airportTSA officials said that officers at the Miami International Airport detected the bag hidden inside the passenger’s pants, prompting a call to Customs and Border Patrol.
Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screening
Read full article: Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screeningA bipartisan group of senators wants restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology by the Transportation Security Administration.
Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in US
Read full article: Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in USThe U.S. government has started requiring migrants without passports to submit to facial recognition technology to take domestic flights under a change that prompted confusion this week among immigrants and advocacy groups in Texas.
🛧 Airports using biometric facial recognition in Florida
Read full article: 🛧 Airports using biometric facial recognition in FloridaThe next time you're in a security line at the airport, you may find that instead of a Transportation Security Administration officer checking your ID, a camera and screen will use biometric facial recognition to confirm your face and photo ID match and ensure your ID isn't fake.
TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'
Read full article: TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'Federal airport security officials have unveiled a prototype passenger self-screening system at busy Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas but say they do not plan to use it in other cities around the country.
Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human trafficking
Read full article: Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human traffickingFederal and local officials say they're taking steps to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones and curb human trafficking during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas.
TSA found a record number of firearms in 2023. Where Orlando’s airport falls on the list
Read full article: TSA found a record number of firearms in 2023. Where Orlando’s airport falls on the listThe Transportation Security Administration said it intercepted a record 6,737 firearms at 265 U.S. airport security checkpoints in 2023, surpassing the previous year’s record of 6,542 firearms.
Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delays
Read full article: Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delaysThe holiday travel rush is hitting its peak as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raise hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year.
A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught him
Read full article: A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught himThe Transportation Security Administration says security officers found 17 bullets concealed inside a disposable baby diaper at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
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.
Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordeal
Read full article: Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordealAcross the country, federal workers still stung by memories of past government shutdowns are bracing for the possibility of another extended closure.
TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concerns
Read full article: TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concernsThe agency tasked with securing America's airports is testing the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.
Man admits packing explosives in suitcase on flight to Florida, feds say
Read full article: Man admits packing explosives in suitcase on flight to Florida, feds sayFederal authorities say a Pennsylvania man admits packing explosive materials, fuses and a lighter into a suitcase he checked for a commercial flight to Florida.
Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airport
Read full article: Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airportPower was briefly knocked out at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, leaving many passengers at one of the world’s busiest airports in the dark and halting security checks.
Florida flight diverted after man accused of threatening passengers with box cutter
Read full article: Florida flight diverted after man accused of threatening passengers with box cutterA commercial flight from Cincinnati to Tampa was diverted to Atlanta after a disruptive passenger was seen with a box cutter.
TSA: Gun stuffed in raw chicken found at Florida airport checkpoint
Read full article: TSA: Gun stuffed in raw chicken found at Florida airport checkpointTransportation Security Administration agents recently intercepted a raw whole chicken with a handgun shoved inside, according to social media post.
TSA pre-check program comes to Orlando International Airport
Read full article: TSA pre-check program comes to Orlando International AirportThe Transportation Security Administration, their contractor Idemia and airport leaders at Orlando International Airport announced a new plan Tuesday to try to make the enrollment process for TSA pre-check easier and faster.
TSA prepares for ‘busy’ summer travel season with five helpful tips
Read full article: TSA prepares for ‘busy’ summer travel season with five helpful tipsThe Transportation Security Administration said the agency is preparing to handle its “busy” summer travel season as it expects passenger volume will “match and may occasionally exceed” pre-pandemic levels.
Daytona Beach International Airport to offer TSA PreCheck enrollment event
Read full article: Daytona Beach International Airport to offer TSA PreCheck enrollment eventFlyers looking to join the Transportation Security Administration’s Precheck program can make a one-stop-shop of the whole process at an enrollment event taking place later this month at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB).
CDC restates recommendation for masks on airplanes, trains, buses
Read full article: CDC restates recommendation for masks on airplanes, trains, busesU.S. health officials are restating their recommendation that Americans wear masks on planes, trains and buses, despite a court ruling last month that struck down a national mask mandate on public transportation.
Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel
Read full article: Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travelA federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit Monday, and airlines and airports swiftly began repealing their face covering requirements.
Orlando International tops list of Florida airports with most gun confiscations, TSA says
Read full article: Orlando International tops list of Florida airports with most gun confiscations, TSA saysOrlando International Airport is in the state’s lead as Florida airports continue to rank in the nation’s top 10 every year for where passengers are most often stopped at checkpoints with a gun.
CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises
Read full article: CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID risesThe Biden administration has announced it will extend through May 3 the nationwide mask requirement for airplanes and public transit as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approach
Read full article: US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approachFederal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation through mid-April while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule.
TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airport
Read full article: TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airportNewly released video shows a security officer leaping over conveyor belt rollers and saving a 2-month-old boy who stopped breathing at a New Jersey airport security checkpoint.
How to fly with holiday food, according to TSA
Read full article: How to fly with holiday food, according to TSAThe Transportation Security Administration issued a statement Monday, reminding holiday travelers that you can travel with your holiday food, but some things can go in carry-on luggage, and some things need to be checked.
Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes off
Read full article: Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes offAuthorities say a passenger awaiting a bag search at the Atlanta airport’s main security checkpoint reached in the bag and grabbed a firearm, and it went off, causing chaos among travelers.
Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA says
Read full article: Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA saysThe number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.
Airlines, cruise lines and hotel stocks fall on virus fears
Read full article: Airlines, cruise lines and hotel stocks fall on virus fearsAir travel in the United States hit another pandemic-era record over the weekend as vacationers jammed airports, but shares of airlines, cruise lines, hotels and almost anything else related to travel are tumbling on growing concerns about highly contagious variants of coronavirus.
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.
Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelines
Read full article: Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelinesThe federal government will issue cybersecurity regulations in the coming days for U.S. pipeline operators following a ransomware attack that led to fuel shortages across much of the Eastern Seaboard.
Travel spikes with new pandemic-era air travel record, TSA says
Read full article: Travel spikes with new pandemic-era air travel record, TSA saysAll rights reserved)Travelers stand in line at a TSA security checkpoint at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Temperatures dropped into the single digits this week as snow shut down air travel and grocery stores. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Anyone who has flown recently is in good company as Sunday set a new record with the highest number of air travelers since the coronavirus pandemic began. AdClose to 10 million people have flown in the last week as spring break continues for students across the nation. The trend is worrying health experts because only 15.5% of the population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit
Read full article: US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)Across the United States, air travel is recovering more quickly from the depths of the pandemic, and it is showing up in longer airport security lines and busier traffic on airline websites. "Our last three weeks have been the best three weeks since the pandemic hit, and each week has been better than the one prior,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said Monday. However, the airlines still have far to go before travel fully returns to pre-pandemic levels. Since the pandemic hit, air travel has picked up a few times — mostly around holidays — only to drop back down. The airline said people are booking leisure trips to beach and mountain destinations but business travel is still lagging.
The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine
Read full article: The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University issued a quarantine order for all of its undergraduates effective Saturday night due to a coronavirus outbreak caused by students who attended recruitment parties, the school said. The university said in a statement that all undergraduate students will be forced to stay-in-place until at least March 21. Suspension or dismissal from the school are potential punishments for “flagrant or repeat violators.”Over the past week, the school has reported more than 180 positive coronavirus cases among students. AdItaly has now tallied some 3.2 million cases in the pandemic. The COVAX alliance aims to share COVID-19 vaccines with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations.
Air travel saw spike over past weekend, data shows
Read full article: Air travel saw spike over past weekend, data showsFILE - In this June 10, 2020 file photo, Transportation Security Administration agents process passengers at the south security checkpoint at Denver International Airport in Denver. Federal safety officials are investigating people who took part in last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol to decide whether they belong on the federal no-fly list. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)Air travel had its busiest weekend in more than a month. Transportation Security Administration data shows more than 4 million people have passed through airport security since Thursday. AdAirlines have been concerned the CDC might mandate a negative COVID-19 test before any travel, but the agency says it is not considering that at this time.
TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly list
Read full article: TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly listFederal safety officials are investigating people who took part in last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol to decide whether they belong on the federal no-fly list. The assessments are one of several steps federal agencies are taking to increase security before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week. The assessments could result in rioters being added to the federal no-fly list, the person said. The FBI said earlier this week it was considering adding Capitol rioters to the federal no-fly list but stopped short of saying that individuals were being scrutinized. Airlines and Washington-area airports also have promised tighter security after last week’s riot at the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.
VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underway
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underwayAdministrative worker Sander Edmondson, left, hands a COVID-19 testing kit to a woman at a testing site in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Here’s what’s happening Monday with the pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY— A huge study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate is getting underway Monday as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the nation’s first shots. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if this vaccine — a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors — really works and is safe. — Homicides in Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. cities have topped 2019 numbers as violence surged during the coronavirus pandemic. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster
Read full article: The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)BEIJING — Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses. Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 10.1 million confirmed cases.
‘Life is precious:’ TSA officer helps save unresponsive traveler at Orlando airport
Read full article: ‘Life is precious:’ TSA officer helps save unresponsive traveler at Orlando airportORLANDO, Fla. – A Transportation Security Administration officer cut his coffee break short recently to help save a passenger who was found unresponsive at Orlando International Airport. Soon thereafter a Delta employee who is a certified first responder joined Ordenana in performing life-saving measures. “Although I do not know this man, never met this man before, I had tremendous compassion and empathy for him. “A single act of kindness throws roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees,” he said. A single and simple act of kindness can make someone’s day and the power to change someone’s life.
Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warnings
Read full article: Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warningsThe Transportation Security Administration screened at least 1 million people on four of the last 10 days through Sunday. That's still half the crowd recorded last year at airports, when more than 2 million people were counted per day. With new reported cases of coronavirus spiking across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued a warning against Thanksgiving travel just a week before the holiday. It's unclear whether the pleas of experts like Fauci had any effect on travel and large gatherings at Thanksgiving. On Monday, JetBlue Airways said “booking trends remain volatile,” and a recovery in travel demand will be uneven into next year.
Airline passenger traffic hits 6-month high in US
Read full article: Airline passenger traffic hits 6-month high in USORLANDO, Fla. – It appears Americans are starting to travel again after the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the industry. The Transportation Security Administration said airport passenger has hit a six-month high. According to the agency, more than 984,000 people passed through U.S. checkpoints on Sunday. That is significantly low, however, compared to the 2.5 million travelers reported on the same day in 2019. The TSA says checkpoint traffic hit its low on April 14. when 87,000 travelers passed through U.S. checkpoints.
Gun, ammo found in passenger’s bag at Orlando International Airport
Read full article: Gun, ammo found in passenger’s bag at Orlando International AirportPublished: September 24, 2020, 7:38 am Updated: September 24, 2020, 7:47 amORLANDO, Fla. – A passenger is facing charges after deputies say he tried to sneak a gun through a security checkpoint at Orlando International Airport. Investigators say German Espinosa, 29, was carrying a backpack with a 9mm firearm and several bullets inside it. Deputies say a airport security screener made the discovery after putting Epinosa’s bag through an X-ray machine. Investigators say Espinosa did not have a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Espinosa was booked into the Orange County Jail and has since been released.
TSA reports its busiest travel day since March over Labor Day weekend
Read full article: TSA reports its busiest travel day since March over Labor Day weekend(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)It was a busy holiday weekend for air travel. The Transportation Security Administration says it screened almost a million people on Friday, a record high since the pandemic began. In comparison, they saw double that number the year before. The TSA say they saw less people on Saturday, only about half a million people traveled that day.
Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports
Read full article: Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)With air traffic nearing a five-month high, airport security is finding guns in passenger carry-on bags at three times the rate recorded before the pandemic. There has been a significant increase in loaded guns at checkpoints, said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Last year, 4,432 guns were found in carry-on bags, or about 12.1 per day, and 87% were loaded. TSA's public appeal to follow gun rules came the same day that it reported screening 831,789 people on Sunday. It was the first time checkpoint traffic in U.S. airports has topped 800,000 since March 17.
Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirus
Read full article: Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirusThe top TSA official in Kansas, Jay Brainard, says the TSAs actions amount to gross mismanagement." The special counsel has ordered TSA's parent agency, the Homeland Security Department, to conduct an investigation. Brainard filed his whistleblower complaint on June 3, and the special counsel on Thursday ordered the Homeland Security Department to investigate the allegations. By law, the special counsel only takes that step when it believes there is a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing. The special counsel will review Homeland Securitys findings and issue a report to the White House and Congress.
OIA executive provides clarity after governors COVID-19 statement on airport workers
Read full article: OIA executive provides clarity after governors COVID-19 statement on airport workersORLANDO, Fla. Chief Executive Phil Brown released a statement Wednesday saying the governors statement noting 260 workers test positive for COVID-19 at Orlando International Airport is incorrect. Ron DeSantis said those workers tested positive for the coronavirus after nearly 500 employees were tested. [RELATED: 260 workers test positive for COVID-19 at Orlando International Airport, governor says]According to Browns statement, of the 500 airport workers tested for coronavirus, only two had positive results. Another 128 people that tested positive were not airport employees but were traceable connections to the workers that tested positive for COVID-19. For clarification, the two figures together mean 260 people tested positive for COVID-19 had some connection to OIA whether a visitor, traveler or worker.
Report details how woman without ticket boarded Delta flight at Orlando airport
Read full article: Report details how woman without ticket boarded Delta flight at Orlando airportShe then boarded a Delta flight bound for Atlanta by pretending to be a wheelchair passenger, according to a TSA report. That morning, the woman presented a JetBlue baggage receipt to a TSA agent checking boarding passes and IDs at the east terminal entrance. She lined up with wheelchair passengers during the pre-boarding process and went around them when the gate agent scanned their boarding passes. She entered the jet bridge and a gate agent asked if she'd been scanned, the report said. I assumed she was with the wheelchair passenger and then allowed her to board," the gate agent told investigators.
TSA officers intercept 2 guns at Orlando airport, 12 state-wide in 9 day period
Read full article: TSA officers intercept 2 guns at Orlando airport, 12 state-wide in 9 day periodORLANDO, Fla. It was a busy week across Florida for TSA officers who said they intercepted 12 guns state-wide in the last nine days. According to a news release, one gun was intercepted each day at the Orlando International Airport on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ten other guns were intercepted from passengers going through security checkpoints in Miami, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Tamps, Panama City and Ft. Walton Beach. TSA officials said nine men and three women between the ages of 22 and 45, face a civil penalty from the agency that may exceed $13,000, regardless of whether they were arrested by local police. The diligence of our officers during these trying times exemplifies their dedication to their mission to keep travelers safe every day of the year.
Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for tourists
Read full article: Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for touristsFive restaurants continue to operate with enhanced off-premise service only, while nine restaurants remain temporarily closed. Transactions at fast food restaurants were down 17% the week of May 24, while transactions at sit-down chains were down 49%. CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS & BANKS: Spains national statistics office said that it received zero international tourists in April. That compares with 7 million tourists that spent 7 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in Spain in the prior-year period. Istanbuls 15th century Grand Bazaar, museums, gyms, child care centers and nurseries, were among other venues allowed to resume operations.
Third TSA agent at Orlando airport tests positive for coronavirus
Read full article: Third TSA agent at Orlando airport tests positive for coronavirusORLANDO, Fla. – A third Transportation Security Administration agent working at Orlando International Airport has tested positive for coronavirus, TSA officials confirmed in a statement. The two agents tested positive after the first Orlando TSA agent became ill with the deadly virus. “TSA confirms today that two additional Transportation Security Officers who work at Orlando International Airport have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. [RELATED: Map shows which airports where TSA officers have tested positive for coronavirus]Only one of the two agents worked in the same area as the first agent who tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Across the country, 17 TSA agents have tested positive thus far, four of whom are in Florida.
Map shows which airports where TSA officers have tested positive for coronavirus
Read full article: Map shows which airports where TSA officers have tested positive for coronavirusORLANDO, Fla. – The Transportation Security Administration has posted a map of TSA officers who have tested positive for coronavirus. CLICK HERE FOR MAP OF TSA OFFICERS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUSAs of March 20, 15 different TSA officers have tested positive for coronavirus, according to TSA. Two Orlando airport TSA workers have tested positive. Two different screening officers at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport tested positive in March. Any employee or traveler who believes they may have been in contact with a TSA officer who tested positive should consult their healthcare provider.
TSA worker at Orlando International Airport tests positive for coronavirus
Read full article: TSA worker at Orlando International Airport tests positive for coronavirusA Transportation Security Officer at Orlando International Airport has received an initial positive test for the coronavirus, according to a spokesperson with the Transportation Security Administration. They also said extensive cleaning has been done where that officer worked. "We have one officer who tested positive at [Orlando International Airport] and that they're doing everything they can to check and see who she worked with," she said. According to officials, the TSA worker was a screening officer at checkpoint West. A record 50 million passengers passed through Orlando International Airport in 2019 and each and every passenger has to make it through being checked at a security checkpoint.