In a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis, a judge ruled cruise giant Norwegian can require vaccine passports in Florida

Summary List Placement A federal judge ruled Sunday in favor of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), allowing them to require passengers to show proof of vaccination in defiance of Florida’s vaccine passport ban. US District Judge Kathleen Williams granted the cruise line a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking enforcement of the ban, concluding NCLH would likely …

Uncertainty the mother of new routes for Virgin

When you can’t fly where you want, you fly where you can — and Virgin Australia is making the most out of Australia’s limited options with fresh services between three states that still have open borders. The services don’t begin until early next month but the grim COVID situation on the eastern seaboard saw the …

Ground handlers warn of threat to summer flights

A group representing ground handling companies has warned a decision to exclude contract workers from a $750 weekly aviation COVID payment could see hundreds of flights grounded this summer. The Australian Aviation Ground Handling Industry Alliance claims thousands of workers are poised to leave the industry because they are ineligible for the $750 a week …

Auckland airport to merge international and domestic terminals

Auckland International Airport is planning to merge domestic operations into the eastern end of the international terminal as part of an $NZ1 billion-plus post-COVID restructure. Site preparation on the integrated domestic -international development is due to get underway early next year as the airport matches infrastructure to an expected international aviation recovery. Airport management says …

Stunning photo of shining clouds over Saint Petersburg

A stunning photo of shining clouds over Saint Petersburg has been captured by 747 pilot Christiaan van Heijst. Christiaan van Heijst takes up the story of the Noctilucent “night-shining” clouds shimmering in the midnight skies north of Saint Petersburg, a crescent moon rising over the horizon. “These blue and white glowing streaks of cloud are …

Hollywood Burbank Airport: Landing, Parking in under a Minute

MIAMI – The average taxiing time across airports in the U.S. is at around eight minutes while the number stands at nearly 15 minutes for Los Angeles International (LAX), a major gateway and hub for domestic and international flights. While this extra time taken after landing to get you to the gate might seem like …

A new airline wants to connect the US and Asia with low fares and Alaskan stopover programs: Meet Northern Pacific Airways

Summary List Placement Conventional wisdom dictates that the quickest way to fly between the US and Asia isn’t with a stop in Alaska. But one carrier aims to solidify a new Northwest Passage with low fares and stopovers in the 49th state.  Northern Pacific Airways is launching on Sunday with a low-cost business model centered …

I flew on JetBlue founder David Neeleman’s new airline, Breeze Airways, and saw how easy it is to have a great experience for dirt cheap

Summary List Placement Flying during the summer of vaccinated travel doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.  David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue Airways and four other airlines, just launched Breeze Airways with 39 new low-cost leisure routes across the US launching this summer.  Breeze’s value proposition comes from offering cheap flights between …

Sensational colour photo of American Airlines Convair 990

A sensational photo of an American Airlines Convair 990 has been colourised by Frenchman Benoit Vienne. The photo epitomizes the raw speed of what was the world’s fastest subsonic jet built by San Diego-based Convair, a division of General Dynamics. Original colour imagery of the Convair 990 series is rare and of the American 990 …

5 High-Tech Advances Taking Airplanes to New Heights

MIAMI – New aviation industry technologies — like sensors, AI-powered monitoring systems, and alternative fuels — are helping to make the airplane industry much safer and more efficient. Significant innovations from the past few years have led to some of the safest years on record for aviation, and the industry appears to be on track …

5 reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still one of the best travel credit cards you can get

  Summary List Placement Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular credit cards on the market. It offers a high sign-up bonus, generous rewards, and solid benefits for a reasonable annual fee. The sign-up bonus gives the Sapphire Preferred an edge over the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve®. …

Boeing HorizonX, AeroEquity Partners Team up for Capital Investment

MIAMI – A strategic partnership between Boeing and AeroEquity Industrial Partners (AEI) was announced on August 5, 2021. The partnership aims to expand Boeing’s venture capital investments in space, mobility, connectivity, industrial technologies, and digital solutions for enterprises but with an emphasis on sustainability. AEI’s operational and private equity join hands with Boeing’s innovation in …

I checked in at the same private terminal at LAX that celebrities use — here’s what the $4,350 entry fee gets you

  Summary List Placement Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky I’m a travel writer, but like most, I felt apprehensive about air travel during the height of the pandemic. I chose to take my family only on local jaunts from our home in Los Angeles to Airbnbs in Palm Springs or Big Bear by car.  This …

What is the IATA Travel Pass?

MIAMI – Several airlines over the past few months have made headlines with the launch of the IATA Travel Pass, a step for a gradual uniform revival of air travel. As the world currently sits in a rather restrictive and tense state due to COVID19, restrictions between countries and state borders all over are constantly …

Defaulted Etihad-Linked Bonds Receive Low Bids

Miami – Earlier this summer Airways reported on an upcoming auction of Etihad-linked bonds. Etihad (EY) had issued the bonds to shareholders, primarily Middle East investors, to finance the stakes it had taken in Alitalia (AZ) and Air Berlin (AB). Etihad had purchased stakes in the two airlines as part of an ill-fated push into …

Today in Aviation: Maiden Flight of the BAe ATP

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, the prototype British Aerospace (BAe) ATP operated its maiden flight from Woodford, UK in 1986. Piloted by Test Pilot Robbie Robinson G-MATP took off at 10:00hrs. Despite poor weather conditions the 2 hour 40 minute flight was a complete success. The ‘Advanced Turboprop’ (ATP) can trace its history back to …

I provide security for rich people on vacation. We’ll do just about anything except acquire drugs and be photographed.

Summary List Placement Mike spoke anonymously due to privacy concerns. His identity has been verified by Insider.  I used to move US Special Forces troops around Iraq and Afghanistan. As a Navy Seal, I was awarded Bronze Star Medal in Iraq and a Bronze Star with V for Valor in Afghanistan. Now I move rich …

Qantas’ giant vaccination carrot: a year’s unlimited flying

Australia’s Qantas is working on incentives to convince customers to get vaccinated that include grand prizes of a year’s unlimited flying anywhere in the group’s network. Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said this week that he expected people would be able to register for incentives that could also include 1000 frequent flyer points and …

Lufthansa heading back to most destinations as losses fall

Europe’s Lufthansa Group expects to return to almost all of its pre-COVID destinations by September after reporting a reduced loss and positive cash flow in its second quarter. The aviation group said it benefitted from a significant market recovery “with increasing passenger and booking numbers” in its second quarter. An operating loss of 952 million …

US air safety chief calls for curb on airport alcohol sales

US Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson has called on airports to help curb alcohol-fuelled incidents on aircraft by clamping down on sales of takeaway drinks. He also took a swipe at local police for often failing to launch criminal prosecutions against people who disrupt flights. As the number of travelers has increased, Dickson said …

Qatar grounds A350s, cites fuselage issue

Qatar Airways has grounded 13 Airbus A350s and suspended deliveries of further aircraft, citing a surface issue on the plane’s fuselage. The airline said it had grounded the aircraft at the behest of the Qatari regulator and it was continuing to closely monitor a “significant condition” across its A350 fleet in which the fuselage surface …

Citi Rewards+ card review: A bonus worth $150, unique benefits, and no annual fee

  Summary List Placement Review: Is the Citi Rewards+ the best credit card for you? If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns flexible points, the Citi Rewards+® Card is an interesting option. The Citi Rewards+® Card has a unique way of earning points, an annual points rebate, and a welcome offer of …

15 of the best Northeast hotels to book just in time for fall foliage

  Summary List Placement Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky If you live in the Northeast, you know that the fall is a wonderful time to be outdoors. The summer heat is traded for sun-kissed days and crisp nights and activities abound; pick apples, visit a pumpkin patch, sip cider, or perhaps best of all, savor …

Fly for as low as $49 on Southwest right now with their fall fare sale — here are the best deals for the US and Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean

  Summary List Placement If you’re considering upcoming travel, Southwest Airlines just made that decision a lot easier with their current fall fare sale. Now through August 12, book cheap flights for travel dates within the continental US, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean between August 24 and December 15. One-way plane tickets start as low …

Congress wants to make it easier for Americans to take Amtrak to Canada in the new $1 trillion infrastructure bill

Summary List Placement Congress’ $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill wants to make it easier for Americans and Canadian to cross the border by rail. Amtrak is being tasked with reviewing and improving cross-border rail services by reducing delays at the US-Canada border. Both US and Canada-bound trains often waste hours at border stations while passengers undergo …

Boeing Flying Test 737 MAX to China for Recertification

MIAMI – The stakes are high for Boeing as an “enhanced” 737 MAX began its flight to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport (PVG) Wednesday. The plane departed Boeing Field (BFI) near Seattle at 8:17 a.m. local time. It landed at John Rodgers Field (JRF) outside Honolulu about 5.5 hours later. The type is flying to China …

Air Canada Resumes UK, Ireland Flights

MIAMI – Air Canada (AC) continues to rebuild its international network following a lengthy pandemic-induced traffic decline. Despite concerns about Covid variants, Canada’s largest airline has resumed operations between Montreal (YUL) and London’s Heathrow airport (LHR) four times weekly. In addition to the current daily service from Toronto (YYZ) to LHR, the airline also offers …