BREAKING NEWS
Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekend
Read full article: Travelers are getting a head start on the long Labor Day weekendAirports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed across the U.S. this Labor Day weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.
More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surges
Read full article: More than 3 million pass through US airport security in a day for the first time as travel surgesAgents for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Sunday screened 3 million airline passengers in a single day for the first time ever.
The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekend
Read full article: The July 4th holiday rush is on. TSA expects to screen a record number of travelers this weekendA long Fourth of July holiday weekend in the United States is expected to create new travel records.
San Antonio International Airport reports ‘record-breaking’ summer for passengers
Read full article: San Antonio International Airport reports ‘record-breaking’ summer for passengersThe Transportation Security Administration and the San Antonio International Airport are both reporting a high volume of summer travelers.
Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airports
Read full article: Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airportsA record was broken ahead of the Memorial Day weekend for the number of airline travelers screened at U.S. airports.
Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screening
Read full article: Senators want limits on the government's use of facial recognition technology for airport screeningA bipartisan group of senators wants restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology by the Transportation Security Administration.
Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in US
Read full article: Migrants lacking passports must now submit to facial recognition to board flights in USThe U.S. government has started requiring migrants without passports to submit to facial recognition technology to take domestic flights under a change that prompted confusion this week among immigrants and advocacy groups in Texas.
San Antonio International Airport one of many in Texas using biometric facial recognition
Read full article: San Antonio International Airport one of many in Texas using biometric facial recognitionSpokeo looked at which airports are using facial recognition software in Texas for security screenings, according to Customs and Border Protection.
San Antonio airport shares tips for spring break travelers
Read full article: San Antonio airport shares tips for spring break travelersOfficials at the San Antonio International Airport say they’re expecting a record-breaking spring break travel season with more than 340,000 travelers flying in and out of the Alamo City between March 8 and 12.
TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'
Read full article: TSA unveils passenger self-screening lanes at Vegas airport as 'a step into the future'Federal airport security officials have unveiled a prototype passenger self-screening system at busy Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas but say they do not plan to use it in other cities around the country.
Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human trafficking
Read full article: Officials tout Super Bowl plans to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones, curb human traffickingFederal and local officials say they're taking steps to crimp counterfeiting, ground drones and curb human trafficking during Super Bowl week in Las Vegas.
Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delays
Read full article: Busiest holiday travel season in years is off to a smooth start with few airport delaysThe holiday travel rush is hitting its peak as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raise hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year.
A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught him
Read full article: A passenger hid bullets in a baby diaper at New York's LaGuardia Airport. TSA officers caught himThe Transportation Security Administration says security officers found 17 bullets concealed inside a disposable baby diaper at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekend
Read full article: US airports saw record passenger volumes, but fewer headaches, over Thanksgiving weekendA record number of passengers traveled through U.S. airports over Thanksgiving weekend, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.
Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordeal
Read full article: Not again. Federal workers who've weathered past government shutdowns brace for yet another ordealAcross the country, federal workers still stung by memories of past government shutdowns are bracing for the possibility of another extended closure.
Video shows TSA agents allegedly stealing from passengers at security checkpoints
Read full article: Video shows TSA agents allegedly stealing from passengers at security checkpointsA newly released video from the Miami International Airport appears to show Transportation Security Administration agents stealing from travelers who are going through security checkpoints.
TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concerns
Read full article: TSA is testing facial recognition at more airports, raising privacy concernsThe agency tasked with securing America's airports is testing the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country.
Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airport
Read full article: Power outage blacks out terminals at Los Angeles airportPower was briefly knocked out at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, leaving many passengers at one of the world’s busiest airports in the dark and halting security checks.
TSA intercepts record number of firearms at San Antonio airport
Read full article: TSA intercepts record number of firearms at San Antonio airportTransportation Security Administration officers intercepted a record amount of firearms from passengers nationally in 2022, and San Antonio International Airport was no different.
TSA finds large weapon inside checked luggage at San Antonio International Airport
Read full article: TSA finds large weapon inside checked luggage at San Antonio International AirportThe Transportation Security Administration found an 84 mm-caliber weapon in checked luggage at the San Antonio International Airport on Monday afternoon.
Thanksgiving travel rush in full swing, expected to carry through weekend
Read full article: Thanksgiving travel rush in full swing, expected to carry through weekendNationwide, the Transportation Security Administration said they expect to screen as many as 2.5 million people. It would be a new high since the coronavirus pandemic.
Judge Speedlin Gonzalez pays $2,475 fine for loaded gun incident at San Antonio International Airport
Read full article: Judge Speedlin Gonzalez pays $2,475 fine for loaded gun incident at San Antonio International AirportBexar County Court 13 Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez on Friday paid a $2,475 civil penalty, weeks after a loaded gun was found in her carry-on luggage at San Antonio International Airport.
City of San Antonio shares safety tips for travelers this Labor Day weekend
Read full article: City of San Antonio shares safety tips for travelers this Labor Day weekendThe holiday weekend is quickly approaching, and the City of San Antonio is helping the public prepare for a stress-free travel experience by sharing a few tips!
San Antonio travelers rejoice after judge strikes down federal mask mandate on public transportation
Read full article: San Antonio travelers rejoice after judge strikes down federal mask mandate on public transportationSan Antonio travelers are rejoicing after a federal judge voided a nationwide mask mandate.
CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises
Read full article: CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID risesThe Biden administration has announced it will extend through May 3 the nationwide mask requirement for airplanes and public transit as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approach
Read full article: US extends mask rule for travel while weighing new approachFederal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation through mid-April while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule.
TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airport
Read full article: TSA officer saves infant who stopped breathing at airportNewly released video shows a security officer leaping over conveyor belt rollers and saving a 2-month-old boy who stopped breathing at a New Jersey airport security checkpoint.
Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes off
Read full article: Atlanta airport checkpoint chaos: Man grabs gun, it goes offAuthorities say a passenger awaiting a bag search at the Atlanta airport’s main security checkpoint reached in the bag and grabbed a firearm, and it went off, causing chaos among travelers.
Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA says
Read full article: Thanksgiving air travel to rebound to 2019 levels, TSA saysThe number of airline passengers traveling for Thanksgiving this year is expected to rebound to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, but the Transportation Security Administration says it is ready to handle the surge.
San Antonio International Airport gears up for travel surge this holiday season
Read full article: San Antonio International Airport gears up for travel surge this holiday seasonSan Antonio International Airport and the Transportation Security Administration are gearing up for a busy holiday travel season.
A dog’s life: TSA Explosive Detection Canines are trained in San Antonio
Read full article: A dog’s life: TSA Explosive Detection Canines are trained in San AntonioSome of the most important security missions across mass transportation systems including the San Antonio International Airport are in the hands, or paws of canines.
Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumble
Read full article: Travel stocks slump, with airlines, cruises, hotels tumbleAir travel in the United States hit another pandemic-era record over the weekend as vacationers jammed airports, but shares of airlines, cruise lines, hotels and almost anything else related to travel are tumbling on growing concerns about highly contagious variants of coronavirus.
Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airports
Read full article: Travel rebound: 2 million people go through US airportsThe airline industry’s recovery from the pandemic passed a milestone as more than 2 million people streamed through U.S. airport security checkpoints on Friday for the first time since early March 2020.
Southwest, American airlines delay alcohol service after recent ‘deeply disturbing situations’
Read full article: Southwest, American airlines delay alcohol service after recent ‘deeply disturbing situations’American Airlines has joined Southwest Airlines in delaying alcohol service on flights due to recent incidents involving unruly passengers.
Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelines
Read full article: Hack prompts new security regulations for US pipelinesThe federal government will issue cybersecurity regulations in the coming days for U.S. pipeline operators following a ransomware attack that led to fuel shortages across much of the Eastern Seaboard.
US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit
Read full article: US air travel rises to highest levels yet since pandemic hit(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)Across the United States, air travel is recovering more quickly from the depths of the pandemic, and it is showing up in longer airport security lines and busier traffic on airline websites. "Our last three weeks have been the best three weeks since the pandemic hit, and each week has been better than the one prior,” American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said Monday. However, the airlines still have far to go before travel fully returns to pre-pandemic levels. Since the pandemic hit, air travel has picked up a few times — mostly around holidays — only to drop back down. The airline said people are booking leisure trips to beach and mountain destinations but business travel is still lagging.
The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine
Read full article: The Latest: All Duke University undergrads must quarantine(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University issued a quarantine order for all of its undergraduates effective Saturday night due to a coronavirus outbreak caused by students who attended recruitment parties, the school said. The university said in a statement that all undergraduate students will be forced to stay-in-place until at least March 21. Suspension or dismissal from the school are potential punishments for “flagrant or repeat violators.”Over the past week, the school has reported more than 180 positive coronavirus cases among students. AdItaly has now tallied some 3.2 million cases in the pandemic. The COVAX alliance aims to share COVID-19 vaccines with more than 90 lower and middle-income nations.
TSA enforcing face masks for all public transportation passengers until May
Read full article: TSA enforcing face masks for all public transportation passengers until May(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a new policy regarding the use of face masks. Starting Tuesday all travelers are required to wear face masks while in airports, bus and rail stations, as well as while on passenger aircraft, public transportation, passenger railroads, and over-the-road buses operating on scheduled fixed-routes. The requirement is expected to remain in effect until May 11, according to TSA officials. “TSA will fully comply with the President’s Executive Orders, CDC guidance and the DHS National Emergency determination to ensure healthy and secure travel across all transportation sectors. AdVisit TSA.gov for more information about face mask requirements.
TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly list
Read full article: TSA looking into adding Capitol rioters to US no-fly listFederal safety officials are investigating people who took part in last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol to decide whether they belong on the federal no-fly list. The assessments are one of several steps federal agencies are taking to increase security before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration next week. The assessments could result in rioters being added to the federal no-fly list, the person said. The FBI said earlier this week it was considering adding Capitol rioters to the federal no-fly list but stopped short of saying that individuals were being scrutinized. Airlines and Washington-area airports also have promised tighter security after last week’s riot at the Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.
US airlines could lose more than $35 billion due to pandemic, financial research firm FACTSET reports
Read full article: US airlines could lose more than $35 billion due to pandemic, financial research firm FACTSET reportsAmerican Airlines’ share price lost 45%, its biggest percentage decline since before the carrier’s 2013 merger with US Airways. Delta Airlines’ stock lost 31%, while United Airlines fell 51% over the last 12 months, its biggest drop since 2008. The S&P 500, meanwhile, rose by more than 16% in 2020. U.S. carriers’ increased their total debt by $67 billion in 2020 to more than $172 billion to weather the crisis, according to trade group Airlines for America. On the bright side, air travel demand has recovered a lot of ground compared with the volumes hit early in the pandemic.
Photos: What TSA agents took from people at airports in 2020
Read full article: Photos: What TSA agents took from people at airports in 2020SAN ANTONIO – No, you can’t bring fireworks through an airport on a trip, but you knew that didn’t you? Even in a year where the coronavirus pandemic limited most people’s travel plans, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents were still able to seize some interesting items. And no matter how creative your knife is, even a lipstick look-alike will not make the plane. Images were provided by the Transportation Security Administration Southwest region. Check out the gallery of forbidden carry-on items below:Full Screen Full Screen 1 / 28 Lipstick knife, Tulsa Airport.
VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underway
Read full article: VIRUS TODAY: Huge study on another COVID vaccine is underwayAdministrative worker Sander Edmondson, left, hands a COVID-19 testing kit to a woman at a testing site in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Here’s what’s happening Monday with the pandemic in the U.S.:THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY— A huge study of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate is getting underway Monday as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the nation’s first shots. Some 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove if this vaccine — a different kind than its Pfizer and Moderna competitors — really works and is safe. — Homicides in Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. cities have topped 2019 numbers as violence surged during the coronavirus pandemic. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster
Read full article: The Latest: China tests millions in port over virus cluster(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)BEIJING — Authorities in China’s northeastern port city of Dalian are testing millions of residents after seven new coronavirus cases were reported there in the last 24 hours. It has a deal to secure up to 100 million doses of the potential vaccine produced by AstraZeneca. Koca said the first shipment of three million doses of CoronaVac would be shipped to Turkey on Sunday and arrive Monday. He said Turkey could get 4.5 million doses until the end of March and would have the option buy up to 30 million doses. Indonesia has reported nearly 700,000 COVID-19 cases, the largest caseload in Southeast Asia and second in Asia only to India’s 10.1 million confirmed cases.
Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warnings
Read full article: Holiday air travel surges despite dire health warningsThe Transportation Security Administration screened at least 1 million people on four of the last 10 days through Sunday. That's still half the crowd recorded last year at airports, when more than 2 million people were counted per day. With new reported cases of coronavirus spiking across the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued a warning against Thanksgiving travel just a week before the holiday. It's unclear whether the pleas of experts like Fauci had any effect on travel and large gatherings at Thanksgiving. On Monday, JetBlue Airways said “booking trends remain volatile,” and a recovery in travel demand will be uneven into next year.
Many Americans flying for holiday despite CDC pleas
Read full article: Many Americans flying for holiday despite CDC pleasPROVIDENCE, R.I. – Millions of Americans bought tickets to fly somewhere for Thanksgiving before the nation's top public health agency pleaded with them not to travel for the holiday. That's despite relatively lenient cancellation policies that major airlines have implemented since the coronavirus pandemic emerged earlier this year. Images that emerged this weekend of crowded airport terminals showed that plenty of people are flying anyway. A day earlier, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans should skip Thanksgiving travel and not spend the holiday with people from outside their household. But most are also offering opportunities for people to skip their holiday flights and travel later, though travelers might have to pay more for the replacement flight if it's more expensive.
Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports
Read full article: Air traffic is down, gun seizures up at US airports(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)With air traffic nearing a five-month high, airport security is finding guns in passenger carry-on bags at three times the rate recorded before the pandemic. There has been a significant increase in loaded guns at checkpoints, said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. Last year, 4,432 guns were found in carry-on bags, or about 12.1 per day, and 87% were loaded. TSA's public appeal to follow gun rules came the same day that it reported screening 831,789 people on Sunday. It was the first time checkpoint traffic in U.S. airports has topped 800,000 since March 17.
Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirus
Read full article: Reports: TSA insider faults agency's response to coronavirusThe top TSA official in Kansas, Jay Brainard, says the TSAs actions amount to gross mismanagement." The special counsel has ordered TSA's parent agency, the Homeland Security Department, to conduct an investigation. Brainard filed his whistleblower complaint on June 3, and the special counsel on Thursday ordered the Homeland Security Department to investigate the allegations. By law, the special counsel only takes that step when it believes there is a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing. The special counsel will review Homeland Securitys findings and issue a report to the White House and Congress.
TSA shows how many people are flying right now, and what you should expect while traveling
Read full article: TSA shows how many people are flying right now, and what you should expect while travelingAccording to Transportation Security Administration data, in March, the number of fliers was already significantly lower than the year before. According to TSA, this week, airports recorded the highest number of travelers since the coronavirus pandemic began. On Tuesday, the administration showed there were 441,255 travelers at airports in the U.S., compared to June 7, 2019, at 2,225,952 travelers. Passengers are encouraged to wear facial protection, and all TSA agents at security will be wearing facial coverings. Tell us how you feel about air travel amid the coronavirus pandemic in the comment section below.
Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for tourists
Read full article: Businesses ramp up operations as nations prep for touristsFive restaurants continue to operate with enhanced off-premise service only, while nine restaurants remain temporarily closed. Transactions at fast food restaurants were down 17% the week of May 24, while transactions at sit-down chains were down 49%. CENTRAL GOVERNMENTS & BANKS: Spains national statistics office said that it received zero international tourists in April. That compares with 7 million tourists that spent 7 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in Spain in the prior-year period. Istanbuls 15th century Grand Bazaar, museums, gyms, child care centers and nurseries, were among other venues allowed to resume operations.
TSA’s naughty list: What you should not take on a plane this holiday season
Read full article: TSA’s naughty list: What you should not take on a plane this holiday seasonAnd please, please, please remove any loaded guns from your duffel bag before entering your airport security line. "Any time we have prohibited items coming through a TSA checkpoint, it slows down our screening," says TSA spokesman Mark Howell. People found with guns at TSA passenger checkpoints often claim they didn't remember their guns were in their bags -- even though most of those guns were loaded. "If It can be pumped, poured, spread or sprayed and it's more than 3.4 ounces," it needs to be packed, says TSA's Howell. Even those loaded guns aren't seized by the TSA.