Travel Week in Review – February 17th, 2023

Citing a series of recent aviation safety incidents, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a sweeping review of the agency. “We are experiencing the safest period in aviation history, but we cannot take this for granted,” Billy Nolen, the acting FAA administrator, wrote in a memo. “Recent events remind us that we must not become complacent.” His memo comes after a technological breakdown led to the first nationwide airplane departure grounding since the 9/11 attacks. Read More…

If you have ever booked flights only to see the price at checkout look much higher than the fare you originally picked, you’re not alone. With many airlines charging fees for extras such as seat selection, checked baggage and more – depending on the fare category you choose – the cost of air travel can end up being steeper than it appears at first glance. President Joe Biden has pledged to take aim at those extra costs, which he calls “junk fees.” Read More…

Recent changes to federal funding programs in the United States are dramatically widening the scope of airport expansion plans throughout the country, writes Mary Scott Nabers. In the fall of 2022, the FAA announced the availability of $1 billion during 2023 for airport expansion projects, and over the next several weeks, it will release its list of awardees for this year’s funding cycle. While the funding is earmarked for airport infrastructure projects, the types of projects that qualify are diverse. Read More…

While fears about COVID-19 justifiably loomed large in travelers’ minds in recent years, the good news is that these concerns have since plummeted. They’ve been replaced, however, by worries about civil unrest around the world, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2023 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey. Since August 2022, apprehension about COVID has dropped at a rate of 61 percent, down to its current rate of 13 percent compared to 33 percent in late summer last year. Read More…

Now that every country in Europe has reopened without restrictions and foreign travelers are showing a strong interest in visiting the “Old World,” the big question is…where to go among the innumerable offers of city break destinations, romantic getaways, nature, beaches, small towns, cultural and gourmand itineraries? With more than 400 European destinations on the list, and based on a record number of some 700,000 votes from travelers representing 78 countries. Read More…