Disney pouring $60B into theme parks, cruises over the next 10 years
The Walt Disney Co. is planning to invest approximately $60 billion into its theme parks and cruise lines over the next decade, as the company looks to continue growing one of its more successful business segments. The company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the planned investment is...
Spirit Airlines to add daily flights between Pittsburgh and Miami
Pittsburghers will soon have another travel option to get to South Florida. Spirit Airlines said Monday that it will begin new nonstop service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Miami International Airport on Nov. 15 The low-cost carrier will offer daily flights leaving Pittsburgh at 11:29 a.m. and arriving in Miami...
An equipment outage holds up United flights, but the airline and FAA say they’re resuming
United Airlines departures have resumed after being halted nationwide for a brief time Tuesday because of a technology outage. Federal officials said that United crews had been unable to contact airline dispatchers through normal means. “United asked the FAA to pause the airline’s departures nationwide,” the Federal Aviation Administration said...
Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights
DALLAS — By some measures, air travelers have enjoyed a less stressful summer than last year, but canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that this will be the third busiest holiday weekend...
Canada issues U.S. travel advisory warning LGBTQ+ community about laws that may affect them
TORONTO — Canada this week updated its travel advisory to the U.S., warning members of the LGBTQ+ community that some American states have enacted laws that may affect them. The country’s Global Affairs department did not specify which states, but is advising travelers to check the local laws for their...
Some U.S. airports strive to make flying more inclusive for those with dementia
PHOENIX — Andrea Nissen is trying to prepare her 65-year-old husband, who has Alzheimer’s disease, for a solo flight from Arizona to Oklahoma to visit family. She worries about travelers and airport officials misinterpreting his forgetfulness or habit of getting in people’s personal space, and feels guilty about not being...
American Airlines fined $4.1 million for dozens of long tarmac delays that trapped passengers
DALLAS — The federal government is fining American Airlines $4.1 million for dozens of instances in which passengers were kept on board planes without a chance to exit during long ground delays. The U.S. Department of Transportation said Monday it is the largest such fine against an airline since rules...
Temporary Cleveland-to-Pittsburgh flight coming this winter
Though just a bit over two hours away by car, Alaska Airlines soon will be offering a flight from Cleveland to Pittsburgh this winter. The daily, afternoon flight only travels one way from Cleveland to Pittsburgh. According to the Alaska Airlines website, tickets start as low as $129. The Seattle-based...
Airlines are adding new routes and making a bold bet on continued strong demand for travel
FORT WORTH, Texas — Building on strong bookings this summer, American Airlines said Thursday it will add three new European destinations next summer and revive another international route that it last flew in 2019. The announcement comes one day after Delta Air Lines said it will expand service to China...
NYC outdoor dining sheds were a celebrated pandemic-era innovation. Now, there’s a new set of rules
NEW YORK — Outdoor dining was a part of the pandemic that many people actually liked — made possible by streetside dining sheds that popped up around New York City and allowed many restaurants to stay in business when they couldn’t have diners inside. Some sheds were simple — wooden...
Southwest Airlines promised better performance after meltdown. Has it delivered?
DALLAS — More than half a year has elapsed since Southwest Airlines ’ December meltdown displaced thousands of passengers and canceled flights for days across the country during the holidays. The airline promised passengers that it has put measures in place so something of this magnitude wouldn’t happen again. Southwest...
How Hawaiian wildfires might affect travelers from Western Pa.
Massive wildfires in the Hawaiian Islands have brought devastation and will continue to hurt the Aloha State, as the fires are sure to damage Hawaii’s tourism economy, its biggest source of revenue, said Pittsburgh-area travel agents. Officials confirmed Friday that at least 80 people have been killed in massive fires...
FAA warns of safety hazard from overheating engine housing on Boeing Max jets during anti-icing
U.S. regulators are warning airlines to limit the use of an anti-icing system on Boeing 737 Max jets in dry air to avoid overheating engine-housing parts, which could cause them to break away from the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration says the risk to the flying public is serious enough...
Daycation: Experience exotic animals at Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo in West Virginia
Walk on the wild side with a Daycation Destination to Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo in Kingwood, W.Va. Brenna Yokum was excited to view and interact with exotic furry and feathered animals during her inaugural zoo visit in July. “I’m enjoying everything. My boyfriend and I are animal enthusiasts and we’re like...
Millennial Money: Mystery travel lets you focus on the fun, not the details
Travel planning can be a real chore. Booking flights, deciding on the right hotel and building an itinerary might be fun for some, but others dread it. That’s why some travelers are opting for an unorthodox travel strategy that eliminates the planning stage altogether. It’s called “mystery” or “suprise” travel,...
This Ohio museum shows that TV is older than you might think
The history of television began long before millions of people gathered in front of their black-and-white sets and fiddled with the antenna and horizontal hold to watch Lucy, Uncle Miltie and Howdy Doodie. “Everybody thinks TV started in the ’50s or the late ’40s. Almost nobody knows it existed before...
Daycation: Charming riverside retreat Foxburg enchants
A tiny riverside borough big on tourism is rolling out the welcome mat for visitors from near and far along the Allegheny River in Clarion County. Foxburg, located less than 15 minutes off exit 45 on I-80 and about 85 miles from Pittsburgh, offers natural beauty, a nationally recognized public...
Here’s how to keep cool and stay safe during a heat wave
LAS VEGAS — Scorching heat across the U.S. already has caused more than a dozen deaths in Texas alone and led to mounting misery for millions of people from the Pacific Northwest to the South. And the official end of summer is still months away. Here’s a guide on how...
Hiroshima peace park, Pearl Harbor memorial park forge sister park deal to promote peace
TOKYO — Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor, two symbols of World War II animosity between Japan and the United States, are now promoting peace and friendship through a sister park arrangement. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui signed a sister park agreement on Thursday for Hiroshima’s...
Record travel numbers expected by air, roads for July 4 week
If you’re planning to travel during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, you will be far from alone. Whether by air or on the road, a record-number of people are expected to be on the move during the long weekend. The Automobile Association of America is projecting 50.7 million people...
Airline delays and cancellations are bad ahead of the holiday weekend and getting worse
Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. As of early morning, nearly...
Breeze Airways adds low-cost flights from Pittsburgh to Tampa
One of the newest airlines operating out of Pittsburgh International Airport plans to add flights to Tampa early this fall. Breeze Airways, which launched service in Pittsburgh in July 2021, announced that it will begin offering nonstop flights between Pittsburgh and Tampa International on Oct. 5. Round-trip flights will be...
Flight canceled amid bad weather? What you need to know
WASHINGTON — Amid peak summer travel, thousands of air travelers faced flight cancellations and delays this weekend and Monday as thunderstorms rolled in across the U.S. East Coast and Midwest. In addition to bad weather, a technology failing also contributed to to airline disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly paused...
Outer Banks makes Dr. Beach’s 2023 top 10 list
With the official start of summer just around the corner, many are getting their vacation plans together. The Outer Banks has long been a popular summer destination for Western Pennsylvania residents, and this year it made a spot on a special list. Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, more commonly known as...
Daycation: Go sky high with skydiving in Mercer
A high-flying adventure awaits those brave enough to jump out of an airplane in rural Mercer. Skydive Pennsylvania is the only full-service skydiving facility in Western Pennsylvania, located at the Grove City Airport. Owner Cecil Smith, 66, has logged more than 5,912 jumps in his 49 years of skydiving. Smith...
