2019 will always be the benchmark for comparison in the travel industry, a dividing line between normalcy and the February 2020 emergency of the coronavirus pandemic.As the chaotic summer of air travel came to a close Monday with the end of the Labor Day holiday weekend, airlines could finally smile and see in black-and-white a return to normalcy.ADVERTISINGThe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this morning that its agents screened 8.76 million travelers during Labor Day weekend, exceeding 2019 passenger screening volumes for the first time over a holiday weekend Trending Now The TSA defines the time period as Friday, September 2, to Monday, September 5.The 8.76 million fliers represent 102 percent of volume when compared to the same pre-pandemic holiday weekend in 2019 and is the first time that a holiday weekend passenger screening volume exceeds that of 2019.In 2019, Labor Day was on Monday, Sept. 2, and TSA screened 8.62 million passengers. Friday was the heaviest travel day this year with 2.48 million passengers. The TSA noted that during the four-day period this year, 94.9 percent of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 minutes in security lines and 01.7 percent of passengers in standard screening lanes waited less than 15 minutes.“TSA’s highly trained and dedicated workforce facilitated secure travel for millions of passengers during the busy summer travel season with very little disruptions at the checkpoint,” TSA Acting Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “We were also able to continue the deployment of new technologies that facilitate stronger identity verification procedures and enhanced security screening for carry-on bags.”That’s not to say airlines didn’t have issues. On Sunday and Monday, domestic carriers were forced to delay 8,000 flights and cancel another 224, according to data from FlightAware.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

In what could have been a tragic disaster, the pilot of a single-engine Cessna plane was forced to take evasive action to avoid a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 jet over the runways at Orlando International Airport.The pilot of the Cessna caught the near-miss on video.ADVERTISINGThe incident happened last month and came to light over Labor Day weekend. Based on video and audio captured by the Cessna pilot, it appeared to be a miscommunication by air traffic controllers, who sent the Delta plane on a takeoff into the path of the Cessna. It draws attention to the criticism of the Federal Aviation Administration’s handling of an understaffed air traffic controller group. It also could bring more draw attention to the fact that the aviation oversight agency has also been preoccupied with how the installation of 5G wireless service near airports might disrupt airplane communications.Instead, the FAA might first need to get its house to avoid situations like this."I knew that this didn't look right, so immediately, I turned right and I climbed as steeply as I could because the Boeing 757 from Delta has a much higher climb rate than the aircraft that I was flying," Malik Clarke, the Cessna pilot, told ABC7 Eyewitness News.Clarke said he was told by ATC to take off and fly over the runway at Orlando International that the Delta jet was going to use for takeoff. Clarke said both he and the Delta pilot saw each other."If I hadn't done that evasive maneuver, it's quite likely there would have been a midair collision," Clarke said.ABC News contributor Steve Ganyard said "The two aircraft got as close as 500 feet vertically and 1,500 feet horizontally, which means way too close. And it was somebody's error to put them in the same part of the sky.”The FAA and Delta Air Lines are investigating the incident.[embedded content] Adblock test (Why?)

WHY IT RATES: Discount airline Allegiant today announced its sooner-than-anticipated repayment of emergency relief funds issued by the federal government during the pandemic to help the carrier continue paying its employees, even while air travel was essentially at a standstill. — Laurie Baratti, TravelPulse Associate WriterAllegiant announced it has repaid the $24.8 million dollar emergency relief loan the company received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in April 2020.The government assistance, coupled with proactive initiatives from Allegiant and its employees, allowed the airline to preserve liquidity and strategically position itself to withstand the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19. Allegiant's unique business model, focused entirely on leisure travel, helped the company respond to the unprecedented challenges that the entire airline industry faced when demand for air travel dropped so suddenly and precipitously in 2020, as a result of the global pandemic. Trending Now The CARES Act, signed into law in April 2020, established the Payroll Support Program to provide assistance to U.S. companies that were impacted by the global pandemic. The funds helped Allegiant support the airline's employee salaries and benefits."We're so grateful to the federal government and the American people for stepping up and assisting the entire industry when the outlook for the future was so uncertain," said Allegiant's CEO John Redmond. "This loan helped us save jobs at a time when it wasn't clear how the U.S. would emerge from the pandemic. We're thrilled that demand has increased so much in recent months that we were able to fulfill our obligation much earlier than we originally anticipated." For more information, visit allegiantair.com.SOURCE: Allegiant Travel Company press release. Adblock test (Why?)

In late July, JetBlue Airways finally succeeded in its months-long pursuit of Spirit Airlines and acquired the low-budget carrier for $3.8 billion.It’s still all subject to government regulatory approval, of course, and it appears Spirit’s pilots are taking no chances on whether that approval comes, or what happens when the two carriers finally do merger under the JetBlue brand.ADVERTISING Trending Now According to an article in Forbes, Spirit’s pilots’ union will head to the negotiating table as early as Tuesday, September 6, to ask for a raise. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) confirmed the talks, and a source told Forbes that “Pilots are obviously looking for substantial pay raises.” The publication noted that Spirit pilots had the foresight to negotiate merger protections in a previous contract that was signed in 2018, but this move for the airline’s 3,000 pilots would give captains and co-pilots further protection if and when the merger goes through. It also avoids a prolonged negotiation with JetBlue down the road. ALPA’s current contract with Spirit becomes amendable on March 1, 2023, but a clause allows for negotiations to become 180 days prior to that.“For many months the Spirit master executive council has repeatedly advocated for necessary improvements to compensation and work rules, warning that without these changes, pilots would continue to leave Spirit for airlines that offer better pay, working conditions, and career opportunities,” Capt. Ryan Muller, chairman of the Spirit ALPA chapter, said in a statement. “We look forward to beginning formal negotiations to bring about the changes necessary to stem attrition and make Spirit a career destination airline.” Adblock test (Why?)

Many of the major U.S. airlines have committed to aiding stranded passengers impacted by issues under the airlines’ control in a new step to avoid the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from expanding the rights of airline passengers.On Thursday, DOT published a new dashboard showing travelers which airlines provide which services during these delays and cancellations.ADVERTISING Trending Now According to Reuters, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and others have committed to providing meals for customers who are delayed for three hours and to providing hotel rooms for stranded passengers, as long as the delays and cancellations are related to issues within the airlines’ control, now publishing these rules under their customer service plans.Prior to these new rules, airline passengers had to ask the airlines to provide these things in the event of delays and cancellations.The new rules follow DOT’s publication of an interactive dashboard that showcases the top 10 most popular airlines and the services they provide to customers experiencing delays or cancellations due to circumstances the airlines can control, which include overbooking flights or staffing shortages but exclude weather-related issues.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had previously urged the airlines to commit to providing meals and hotel stays, and he has commented that DOT may still enact new rules “that would further expand the rights of airline passengers."The aviation industry is the one sector of the travel industry that has seen the most tumultuous recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, due largely in part to a smaller workforce that hasn’t kept up with the rising demand. From baggage handlers to commercial pilots, the airlines simply haven’t been hiring the amount of staff needed to man the number of flights the airlines offer, leading to severe delays and cancellations.During the first six months of the year, airlines canceled some 53,000 flights, leading to a 270 percent spike in passenger complaints filed to DOT in comparison with 2019.The new rules aiding customers impacted by these cancellations and delays are a sign that the airlines expect the issues to continue, at least for the foreseeable future, and should help to appease at least some of the customers impacted.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

Copa Airlines is celebrating its 75th anniversary with its passengers and supporters, offering a regional competition called "75 years to celebrate, 75 winners to choose." Each winner will receive two roundtrip tickets (one for themselves and a companion) to travel to any of the destinations operated by the carrier."We celebrate this 75th anniversary with those who have trusted us over the years. We want them to enjoy a trip full of memorable experiences to their dream destination and world-class service, thanks to the connection that Copa Airlines offers through the Hub of the Americas in Panama City,” said Marco Ocando, Senior Director of Marketing, Communications and Frequent Flyer Program at Copa Airlines.ADVERTISING Trending Now The contest will be held through Copa Airlines' official Instagram account, for three weeks. Those interested in participating should take the following steps:—Keep an eye out for Copa Airlines Instagram posts starting Wednesday, August 31.—Participants will have 24 hours from the week's post to respond to trivia found in the bio of the Instagram account or on the contest page at aniversario75.copaair.com—The first 25 people who respond in the shortest possible time, with the most correct answers, will be the winners. Minimum 5 correct answers.Winners will be announced on the airline's Instagram account and in the special winner's section of the contest website. Terms and conditions apply, however, as the contest is not applicable for persons residing in the Dominican RepublicCopa Airlines currently connects more than 75 cities in 30 countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

According to Expedia data, Americans increased their travel search for fall by 40 percent in 2022 over 2021, demonstrating a preference for international destinations such as Barbados, Ho Chi Minh City, London and Munich, among others. In addition, the online travel agency revealed some of the destinations that offer the best value when it comes to airfare into and out of the United States.Here are the top destinations for fall flight value: ADVERTISING Trending Now —Seattle - ATP (average ticket price for round-trip flights), down more than 45 percent—Los Angeles: ATP down more than 35 percent—Portland: ATP down almost 35 percent—Barcelona: ATP down almost 30 percent—San Francisco: ATP down more than 25 percent—London: ATP down about 20 percent—San Diego: ATP down 20 percent—Chicago: ATP down about 20 percent—Rome: ATP down 15 percent—Paris: ATP down 15 percent—Cancun: ATP down more than 10 percent"As flight prices tend to drop after the busy summer travel season, smart travelers can take advantage of the savings that fall brings," Expedia said.Expedia also shared some tips for making the most of money in the fall, including traveling domestically during the week of September 26, when average ticket prices are expected to be nearly 45 percent cheaper than during the summer months. For international flights, travel during the week of October 10, when average ticket prices are projected to be 20 percent lower than during the summer.Alternatively, depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday rather than a Monday for the lowest fares. Booking airfare and lodging simultaneously, known as bundling, can save travelers hundreds of dollars.For fall, Americans are still in the same travel mood, despite high costs and a chaotic summer due to airline cancellations and delays. According to data from the Tripadvisor platform, 61 percent of U.S. respondents plan to travel this fall.The top 10 trending destinations include Las Vegas, Nevada; New York, New York; Orlando, Florida; Honolulu, Hawaii; Lahaina, Hawaii; Key West, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Miami Beach, Florida.Americans have cut back on other spending in order to take fall vacations. In addition, surveys indicate that more than half of Americans plan to travel in the fall, and 66 percent will spend more compared to the same time last year.Likewise, domestic travel continues to be the trend and will continue for the fall. TripAdvisor reported that 81 percent of U.S. and 60 percent of global travelers surveyed prefer domestic vacations. Nearly half, 49 percent will travel by air, according to Mike Arnot, airline industry and flight data service Cirium spokesman.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

This is sort of like a dad turning around in the car and telling the kids in the backseat to knock it off, with some notable exceptions.In this case, the dad is a Southwest Airlines captain.ADVERTISING Trending Now The car is a commercial airline jet and the kids are the passengers, one of whom was being quite naughty.And, yes, the pilot threatened to turn the plane around.The unidentified Southwest pilot used the public address system on a recent flight to admonish a passenger who was using the Apple AirDrop function on an iPhone to send nude pictures to anyone in the cabin who also had an iPhone.“Quit sending naked pictures!” the pilot said over the public address system, a stern warning and certainly one of the stranger announcements made during a flight. “People do realize kids can have iPhones too, right?”The exchange was reported by Daily Dot of a TikTok video that has since gone viral shot by passenger Teighlor Marsalis last week. It has since captured more than 2 million views, with many people making comments similar to that of a dad having to yell at his kids. While the plane was still on the ground, the pilot said that if the passenger continued to send nude photos via AirDrop that he would have no choice but punish everybody by going back to the gate, calling security, and having everyone disembark.“Vacation is going to be ruined,” the pilot says. “Whatever that AirDrop thing is, quit sending naked pictures, and let’s get yourselves to Cabo.”While the incident might be unusual, it wasn’t original in this era of naughty passengers.Apparently, a man was arrested earlier this year for using AirDrop to send lewd photos to fellow passengers, according to Daily Dot.The flight did continue on to Cabo.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)

Frustrations over airline flight delays and cancellations aren't just reserved for passengers.Members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), equally frustrated over the disruptions that have led to rampant schedule changes as well as fatigue, will picket at a dozen major airports across the U.S. this week, according to Travel Weekly.ADVERTISING Trending Now The pickets are planned for Thursday, September 1. The protests, which have become a strong way for unions to draw attention from the flying public to issues with airline management, will take place in two-hour segments throughout the day at each airport.The pickets will take place in Atlanta, Chicago (O'Hare), Detroit, New York (JFK), Las Vegas, Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington (Reagan National), Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle."It's time to prioritize passengers and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices pilots made during the pandemic," ALPA said in a prepared statement.The pickets were timed to take place during the summer's final peak travel period of Labor Day Weekend and come on the heels of the news that domestic carriers canceled 53,000 flights in the first six months of 2022.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here. Adblock test (Why?)

Airline passenger versus airline crew confrontations? Not surprising, not in the last two-and-a-half years of air travel, anyway.Passenger-on-passenger violence? Also, not a shocker.ADVERTISING Trending Now But two pilots fighting on the flight deck? That’s new.Two Air France pilots were suspended after they engaged in a physical confrontation on the flight deck. The incident, which took place in June and is just coming to light now, happened during an Air France flight from Geneva, Switzerland to Paris, according to The Guardian.Air France confirmed the incident to the newspaper on Sunday and said that after crew members separated the pilots, the flight continued without further incident and landed safely.Switzerland’s La Tribune reported that the confrontation began as an argument shortly after takeoff and escalated to a physical nature when the pilots grabbed each other by their shirts and one swung at the other.Apparently, one crew member needed to act as a babysitter and spent the rest of the flight in the cockpit with the two pilots to try and avoid another fight.There is no update on any actions taken by Air France or whether the pilots remain suspended more than two months after the incident.For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter. Adblock test (Why?)