Decades-old palm trees in Rio de Janeiro flower for the 1st — and only — time
RIO DE JANEIRO — Towering talipot palms in a Rio de Janeiro park are flowering for the first and only time in their lives, decades after famed Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx introduced them in the 1960s. Towards the end of its life — which can span between 40...
U.S. air travelers without REAL IDs will be charged a $45 fee
Air travelers in the U.S. without a REAL ID will be charged a $45 fee beginning in February, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday. The updated ID has been required since May, but passengers without it have so far been allowed to clear security with additional screening and a warning....
Consumers should do their research before giving in to Travel Tuesday temptation
NEW YORK — Chain stores have Black Friday. Online marketplaces have Cyber Monday. For local businesses, it’s Small Business Saturday. In the last 20 years, more segments of the retail industry have vied for their own piece of the holiday shopping season. The travel trade has firmly joined the trend...
A guide to Thanksgiving travel after the government shutdown
The turbulence caused by the longest U.S. government shutdown may still be fresh on the minds of travelers this Thanksgiving, but experts say preparing for the usual holiday crush of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports can help ease the jitters. “I think the shutdown at this point is...
‘We are prepared’: Pittsburgh airport braces for spike in Thanksgiving travel
As Pittsburgh International Airport officials Monday prepared for an onslaught of passengers during the frenetic holiday travel season, Josh Buchholz geared up to fly to Arizona for Thanksgiving. The Grove City man and his wife, Erin Bonner, were among the first wave of 300,000 travelers predicted to set foot in...
Airlines cancel flights to Venezuela after FAA warns of worsening security, military activity
CARACAS — International airlines increasingly canceled flights to Venezuela on Sunday after t he U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots to use caution when flying in the country’s airspace because of worsening security and heightened military activity. Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Airlines Association in Venezuela, told The Associated...
Travelers have good reviews for Pittsburgh airport’s new terminal
The Pittsburgh International Airport’s new landside terminal mostly cruised through its first day of operations Tuesday. Perhaps the most notable snag was a technical issue at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in the early morning hours, temporarily snarling lines. Besides that, passengers and airport officials had little negative to report...
What you need to know about Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal
Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal is officially open. The new space was opened up to travelers at 2 a.m., according to Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. The first flight arrived at the new terminal from San Francisco at 5 a.m. and the first departing flight was a Southwest...
FAA takes 1st steps to restore flights after shutdown strain; some limits remain
The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday halved the number of flights that U.S. airlines must cut from their schedules at 40 airports as the country’s aviation system recovers from a shortage of air traffic controllers during the record government shutdown. The agency said airlines will only have to cancel 3%...
Airlines, FAA in talks about when flight cuts will stop as shutdown nears end
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday warned that flight disruptions could skyrocket in the coming days if the House of Representatives does not vote to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Ongoing government-mandated flight cancellations and severe weather in parts of the country wreaked havoc on air travel....
Pittsburgh International Airport’s new terminal set to open
Pittsburgh International Airport will open its new terminal next week as part of a $1.7 billion modernization project. After four years of construction, the new terminal will be open to travelers on Nov. 18. “This is a new day for our region. This is an airport built for Pittsburgh, by...
Trump demands air traffic controllers return to work as flight cancellations spike
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work on Monday as government-directed flight cuts and air traffic staffing absences continue to wreak havoc with U.S. air travel. Trump added that he will reward those who did not take any time off during the 41-day federal government...
U.S. surpassed 10K flight delays, most disruptions on a single day since government shutdown
Travelers across the United States scrambled to reach their destinations as thousands of flights were delayed or canceled on Sunday, the third day of government-mandated flight cuts at 40 high-traffic airports during the ongoing shutdown. As of 10 p.m. on Sunday, more than 10,000 flights within, into, or out of...
Airlines cut hundreds of flights amid FAA shutdown directiveVideo
WASHINGTON — U.S. airlines on Friday scrambled to cut 4% of flights at 40 major airports after the government imposed an unprecedented cut to air travel citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown. The cuts, which began at 6 a.m., include about 700 flights from...
Airline travelers in Pittsburgh prepare for flight disruptions
Lynn Williams felt like she was taking a chance by not canceling her travel plans this week amid mounting unknowns surrounding air travel. “(I) didn’t know if air traffic controllers were staffed. I didn’t know if they were in a good head space to be at work. I didn’t know...
U.S. airlines scramble to rework schedules as government orders flight cuts
U.S. airlines were scrambling on Thursday to rework schedules and fielding a flood of customer queries after the U.S. ordered flight cuts at some of the nation’s busiest airports, the latest travel disruption from the prolonged government shutdown. On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he would order steep cuts...
FAA to slash air traffic by 10% at 40 airports amid shutdownVideo
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Wednesday that he would order a 10% reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers...
Shutdown may force U.S. to close some air space next week, official sees ‘mass chaos’
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that if the federal government shutdown continues another week it could lead to “mass chaos” and could force him to close some of the national airspace to air traffic, a drastic move that could upend American aviation. “If you bring us...
Lack of air traffic controllers hits almost half of major U.S. airports
Nearly 50% of the 30 busiest U.S. airports are grappling with shortages of air traffic controllers, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday, leading to flight delays nationwide as a federal government shutdown hit its 31st day. The absence of controllers is by far the most widespread since the shutdown...
American passports decline in global power, now ranked 12th
The United States passport is no longer among the top 10 most powerful passports, according to a group monitoring global travel. It’s now ranked 12th on the Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. American passports allow...
Former airplane hangar, grain silo offers country-chic Airbnb stay in Butler County
A former grain silo and airplane hangar are two combined apartment-style lodging options offering upscale accommodations at a Butler County farm on more than 200 acres. Co-owners Jan and Cathy McDonald bought their farm in 1999 and later opened a wedding/event barn-themed venue called the White Barn, separate from the...
U.S. expects more flight disruptions as government shutdown enters Day 31
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday delayed flights at airports in Austin, Newark and Nashville as air traffic control staffing problems continue to snarl flights and a government shutdown hits its 31st day. At least nine FAA facilities were facing staffing issues on Friday and the agency said...
Senators urge Trump to reconsider dropping Biden airline compensation plan
WASHINGTON — A group of 18 Democratic senators urged the Trump administration to reconsider its intention to drop a plan by the prior administration to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when flight disruptions are caused by carriers. In December, the U.S. Department of Transportation under then-President Joe Biden...
U.S. expects more flight delays as controllers soon to miss paychecks
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday said he expects more flights to be delayed, with air traffic controllers set to miss their first paycheck as a federal government shutdown enters its 24th day. Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work without pay...
Holiday tours at Hartwood Acres canceled as Pa. budget impasse continues
Holiday tours of the mansion at Hartwood Acres will be canceled this year because of the state budget impasse, Allegheny County spokeswoman Abigail Gardner told TribLive. The cancellation, announced Friday, is part of a spending freeze because the county is dealing with a $100 million shortfall because the state has...
