Ukraine needs nearly $9 billion to rebuild its cultural sites and tourism industry, UN agency says
PARIS — Ukraine will need nearly $9 billion over the next decade to rebuild its cultural sites and tourism industry following Russia’s invasion and war, the United Nations’ cultural agency said Tuesday. UNESCO estimated that the country’s interlinked culture and tourism sector have lost over $19 billion in revenue during...
Quick-moving winter storm brings snow to Northeast, disrupting travel and schoolsVideo
HARTFORD, Conn. — A quick-moving winter storm battered cities in the Northeast with snowfall, sending huge waves crashing into the New England coastline and forcing New York City schools into glitch-filled remote learning reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic. Airlines canceled or delayed flights while accidents were reported...
After a pandemic, flyers are facing a ‘new normal’ for travel
Travelers who sought vengeance after the pandemic halted plans for over a year have already rescheduled and gone on those trips, but now are looking to venture out to their next destination, according to travel experts. After two years of travelers making up for lost time during the pandemic, leisure...
CBP dog sniffs out something unusual in passenger’s luggage — mummified monkeys
BOSTON — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection dog sniffed out something unusual in luggage from a traveler returning from Africa — mummified monkeys. The passenger returning from a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that the luggage contained dried fish, but an inspection at Boston Logan Airport...
Mardi Gras beads are creating a plastic disaster in New Orleans. Are there green alternatives?
NEW ORLEANS — It’s a beloved century-old Carnival season tradition in New Orleans — masked riders on lavish floats fling strings of colorful beads or other trinkets to parade watchers clamoring with outstretched arms. It’s all in good fun but it’s also a bit of a “plastics disaster,” says Judith...
Las Vegas, where the party never ends, prepares for its biggest yet: Super Bowl 58
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas proposed to the NFL in December 2021. “Let’s just marry these brands, and let’s bring the Super Bowl here,” Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, recalled telling a room of NFL franchise owners. They said yes. The betrothal...
NTSB says bolts on Boeing jetliner were missing before a panel blew out in midflight last month
Bolts that helped secure a panel to the frame of a Boeing 737 Max 9 were missing before the panel blew off the Alaska Airlines plane last month, according to accident investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a preliminary report on the Jan. 5 incident Tuesday. The report included...
FAA tells Congress not to raise mandatory retirement for pilots until it can study issue
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is warning Congress not to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots until the agency can study whether older pilots would raise safety risks. FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a letter to two key senators that pilot fitness is critical to safety,...
Boeing flags potential delays after supplier finds another problem with some 737 fuselages
Boeing discovered another problem in some of its 737 fuselages that may delay deliveries of about 50 aircraft in the latest quality gaffe to plague the manufacturer. Improperly drilled holes were discovered by Spirit AeroSystems, a major supplier that provides Boeing with fuselages, according to a letter from Stan Deal,...
Why Taylor Swift’s globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized
PHILADELPHIA — For weeks, scrutiny over singer Taylor Swift’s travel in private jets has been bubbling up on social media, with people pointing out the planet-warming emissions of carbon dioxide released with every flight. The megastar is dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, one of the NFL’s most...
Roberto Clemente exhibit honoring the late Pirates player makes stop at Caribbean Series in Miami
MIAMI — Some of Roberto Clemente’s most impactful career and life moments are on display at the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot Park. A traveling exhibit titled “3,000” — a nod to the day on Sept. 30, 1972, that the late Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder became the first Latin American-born major league player...
Laser strikes against aircraft including airline planes have surged to a new record, the FAA says
WASHINGTON — Laser strikes aimed at aircraft including airline planes surged 41% last year to a record high, according to federal officials. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it received 13,304 reports from pilots about laser strikes last year, erasing a record set in 2021. “Aiming a laser at...
Tropicana Las Vegas, a Sin City landmark since 1957, will be demolished to make way for MLB baseball
LAS VEGAS — The Tropicana Las Vegas, a Sin City landmark for more than six decades, is shutting its doors in the spring to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium that will be home to the relocating Oakland Athletics. Bally’s Corp. made the announcement Monday, saying...
Universal Orlando reveals details about resort’s new theme park, slated to open next year
ORLANDO, Fla. — Universal Orlando Resort’s new theme park opening next year will feature lands devoted to Super Nintendo World characters, Universal film monsters, the “Fantastic Beasts” films and the “How to Train Your Dragon” film franchise. But at the center of it all will be Celestial Park, theme park...
The world’s largest cruise ship has 20 decks, 7 pools and would cover almost 4 city blocks
MIAMI — The world’s largest cruise ship — the size of almost four city blocks — is set to begin its maiden voyage Saturday as it leaves from the Port of Miami. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas runs nearly 1,200 feet (365 meters) from bow to stern. The ship,...
How to book a unique all-inclusive vacation that’s not terrible
All-inclusive vacations can conjure images of food under heat lamps, too many poolside piña coladas, and being trapped on resort grounds. But sun-soaked packages are not the only type of all-inclusives. Sure, sprawling mega-resorts exist — and their numbers are growing. All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy has spent the last couple...
At United and Alaska airlines, frustration with Boeing’s manufacturing problems is boiling over
The leaders of United Airlines and Alaska Airlines took turns Tuesday blasting Boeing over manufacturing problems that have led to the grounding of more than 140 of their planes, with United’s CEO saying his airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max. “I...
Pilots at Southwest ratify a contract that will boost their pay raises by nearly 50% by 2028
DALLAS — Pilots at Southwest Airlines have overwhelmingly approved a new contract that will raise their pay rates by nearly 50% by 2028, becoming the last group of pilots at the nation’s four biggest airlines to score huge raises. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said Monday that the agreement covering...
U.S. intensifies oversight of Boeing, will begin production audits after latest mishap for planemaker
The Federal Aviation Administration says it will increase oversight of Boeing and audit the production of the 737 Max 9 jetliner after a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines plane in midflight last week, the latest in a string of mishaps at the troubled aircraft maker. The FAA said Friday...
Florida teen traveling to Cleveland boards wrong flight to Puerto Rico
For the second time in recent weeks, a child traveling alone by air wound up in the wrong destination. A Florida teen on Dec. 22 was expected to arrive in Cleveland, Ohio, but mistakenly boarded a flight to Puerto Rico, according to TribLive news partner WTAE. The 16-year-old boy left...
Holiday travel is mostly nice, but with some naughty disruptions again on Southwest Airlines
Conditions were mostly nice this year for travelers flying ahead of and on Christmas, but some naughty disruptions again plagued those flying with Southwest Airlines. For millions of people traveling over the holiday, this year was much better than last. Christmas morning put a bow on a relatively smooth weekend....
Ready, set, travel: The holiday rush to the airports and highways is underway
It’s beginning to look a lot like a hectic holiday travel season, but it might go relatively smoothly if the weather cooperates. Travel over Christmas and New Year’s tends to spread out over many days, so the peaks in the U.S. are likely to be lower than they were during...
Forgoing traditional Christmas celebrations to travel is becoming more common
Melinda Cody of Allegheny Township has implemented a Christmas strike, and she’s never been happier. For decades, Cody — a wife and mother of two adult children — prepped, baked, cooked, decorated, shopped, organized and wrapped gifts, providing a traditional Christmas experience for her family with all the expected holiday...
Daycation Destination: Indiana, Pa., is ‘Christmas Tree Capital of the World’
It’s the birthplace of a famous Hollywood star and a major holiday destination dubbed the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World.” Take a Daycation Destination trip to Indiana, Pa., set amid the rural, scenic foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Indiana County, about an hour east of Pittsburgh. It’s home...
15 interesting and underrated European museums
For every world-famous European museum like the Louvre or Prado, there’s one that flies under the radar. The following collection is made up of both quirky and unusual museums and those that are home to world-class collections but just aren’t as well known as they should be. Bottle Peter’s Museum,...