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Tag: Airport

  • A Florida airport shares it wants to ban pajamas. It was a joke, the airport says

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    Tampa International Airport said on social media Thursday that it wanted to ban people from wearing pajamas at the Florida facility. No, it wasn’t being serious.A post on the airport’s official X account said that after successfully going “Crocs-free,” Tampa International had “seen enough” of pajamas.“The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” reads the post, which had been viewed 5.7 million times by mid-afternoon Eastern time and generated a debate about airport attire in the comments.Beau Zimmer, an airport spokesperson, told The Associated Press the post was part of the airport’s longstanding social media persona — a tongue-in-cheek voice it has cultivated since its early days on Twitter, before the platform rebranded as X. The account has attracted a loyal global following, he said.“Our regular social media followers just eat this stuff up,” Zimmer said. “But obviously this is all in fun, and we encourage our travelers to be comfortable.”U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the post with a GIF of actor John Krasinski from the TV show “The Office” looking into the camera and saying, “Yes!”Duffy has been encouraging passengers to dress more formally while flying, part of a civility campaign he launched last November — called “the Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” The Transportation Department said the campaign was “intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel.”The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke.“Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates,” it said. “We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor.”Zimmer said the airport’s online personality has been around for at least a decade. In the earlier days of what was then Twitter, a young intern started posting light-hearted jokes, like poking fun at rival sports teams and fans, “and it really took off.”Earlier this month, the day after the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in an NHL Stadium Series game in Tampa, the airport shared on X: “Oh, and safe flight home to all the Bruins fans today :)”Last month, alluding to an ongoing joke about passengers mixing up the airport’s code of TPA with TIA, an airport in Albania, the Tampa airport shared a New Year’s resolution “to stress out less.”“Unfortunately,” the post continued, “some of y’all’s resolutions is to continue calling us TIA so we will not be meeting our goal.”One X user responded that Tampa airport should just change its code to “GOAT so people don’t get confused,” referring to the acronym for “greatest of all time.”

    Tampa International Airport said on social media Thursday that it wanted to ban people from wearing pajamas at the Florida facility. No, it wasn’t being serious.

    A post on the airport’s official X account said that after successfully going “Crocs-free,” Tampa International had “seen enough” of pajamas.

    “The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” reads the post, which had been viewed 5.7 million times by mid-afternoon Eastern time and generated a debate about airport attire in the comments.

    Beau Zimmer, an airport spokesperson, told The Associated Press the post was part of the airport’s longstanding social media persona — a tongue-in-cheek voice it has cultivated since its early days on Twitter, before the platform rebranded as X. The account has attracted a loyal global following, he said.

    “Our regular social media followers just eat this stuff up,” Zimmer said. “But obviously this is all in fun, and we encourage our travelers to be comfortable.”

    U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the post with a GIF of actor John Krasinski from the TV show “The Office” looking into the camera and saying, “Yes!”

    Duffy has been encouraging passengers to dress more formally while flying, part of a civility campaign he launched last November — called “the Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” The Transportation Department said the campaign was “intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel.”

    The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke.

    “Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates,” it said. “We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor.”

    Zimmer said the airport’s online personality has been around for at least a decade. In the earlier days of what was then Twitter, a young intern started posting light-hearted jokes, like poking fun at rival sports teams and fans, “and it really took off.”

    Earlier this month, the day after the Tampa Bay Lightning rallied from a four-goal deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 6-5 in an NHL Stadium Series game in Tampa, the airport shared on X: “Oh, and safe flight home to all the Bruins fans today :)”

    Last month, alluding to an ongoing joke about passengers mixing up the airport’s code of TPA with TIA, an airport in Albania, the Tampa airport shared a New Year’s resolution “to stress out less.”

    “Unfortunately,” the post continued, “some of y’all’s resolutions is to continue calling us TIA so we will not be meeting our goal.”

    One X user responded that Tampa airport should just change its code to “GOAT so people don’t get confused,” referring to the acronym for “greatest of all time.”

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  • What Is Southwest Airlines’ Policy on ‘Extra Room’ for Passengers?

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    TikTok user @erikawithak27 had never anticipated what she was about to experience while boarding a Southwest Airlines flight from Omaha. What should have been a normal experience for her turned into a tale of embarrassment and anger that is sure to leave a lasting impression on her life.

    On February 10, 2026, Erika, who goes by the account name @erikawithak27, shared a video on TikTok narrating her unpleasant experience with Southwest Airlines, which had left her on the verge of tears. The incident even led to her pledge not to fly with that airline ever again. So what really happened? Long story short, she was subtly fatshamed by an airline employee at the airport who basically asked her if she needed extra ‘room’ (translating to: if she needed an extra seat) because she was big, and she alleged that all of it was to ensure that she and other passengers travelled comfortably. She was subjected to the same treatment again when she boarded the flight and given the same excuse for their behaviour.

    User @erikawithak27 is accusing Southwest Airlines of discrimination

    As mentioned before, Erika’s recent Southwest Airlines flying experience was not at all good. While she was asked about the possibility of needing an extra seat because she was plus-sized, she was also asked to adjust herself while she was on the flight. Speaking about the second incident, Erika, in the TikTok video she uploaded to her account a few days ago, mentioned how airline staff asked her to put her armrest down to ensure that her co-passengers had a comfortable journey. Her best friend, who was travelling with her and sitting beside her, did not have a problem with this, but these people continued to insist that she make adjustments. At one point, she was even asked to sit at the back of the plane, away from her friend, making her journey uncomfortable.

    In the video, Erika claimed that she fit in the seat despite Southwest employees suggesting that she wouldn’t. She even had her armrest down. To prove it, she shared some pictures of herself with her seat belt on and her armrest where it should be, clearly depicting that what these employees were telling was completely wrong, extremely disrespectful, and discriminatory. “You know that you are going to get a group of people, vulnerable group of people that are already probably nervous to fly, and you are going to shame them and humiliate them into buying an extra seat, and they’ll just do it and be quiet. I will not be quiet,” said Erika, talking about the incident.

    People on TikTok are angry on Erika’s behalf and have a lot to say about the Airline industry

    While highlighting the underlying problems of the Airline industry, TikTok user @ hanbran0116 commented under Erika’s post, saying, “Capitalism has brainwashed us into thinking a fat person is the problem when it’s the corporations squeezing ALL of us into spaces we don’t fit. Airplanes are horrible for tall people, disabled people, etc. not just fat people. More space is better for EVERYONE!” User @ madlanestudio made a similar observation and wrote, “Girl, I am NOT plus size. I went on a flight recently in the new planes and barely freaking fit! It’s designed to get more money!”

    A lot of people wanted Erika to take action. For example, user @angelareed71 wrote, “Smells like a class action suit is brewing. You cannot treat people this way.” User @elletamez wrote, “I would sue them. The policy seems arbitrary and capricious on top of being somewhat discriminatory. They should make larger seats available for people who need them.”

    Starting January 27, 2026, any individual travelling by Southwest Airlines who cannot fit within the armrests of their seat is required to book an additional seat in advance. 

    Earlier, plus-sized individuals were allowed to pre-book additional seats with the guarantee of a refund later or were allowed to request a free seat at the airport at the time of journey. However, according to the revised rules, plus-sized people would no longer be guaranteed a reimbursement for their extra seat if they are travelling on a fully booked flight. In the off chance that they are travelling on a comparatively empty plane, they can demand repayment, but there is no guarantee that they will be granted the same.

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    Sanchari Ghosh

    Sanchari Ghosh is a political writer for The Mary Sue who enjoys keeping up with what’s going on in the world and sometimes reminding everyone what they should be talking about. She’s been around for a few years, but still gets excited whenever she disentangles a complicated story. When she’s not writing, she’s likely sleeping, eating, daydreaming, or just hanging out with friends. Politics is her passion, but so is an amazing nap.

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    Sanchari Ghosh

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  • Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

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    Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs

    MARSHALL AIRPORT, WHERE OUR KATE AMARA IS REPORTING THE LATEST DETAILS. ACCORDING TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS, 61,000 TSA OFFICERS, 56,000 COAST GUARD EMPLOYEES, AND THOUSANDS MORE FEMA, SECRET SERVICE AND CSO WORKERS ARE CURRENTLY ON THE JOB AND ON THE CLOCK WITHOUT GETTING PAID FOR IT. THERE’S NO ONE HERE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE PRECHECK IS 1 TO 3 MINUTES, SO I THINK IT’S OKAY. AT BWI MONDAY AFTERNOON, ALL THREE SECURITY CHECKPOINTS WERE OPEN AND LINE FREE. BUSINESS AS USUAL. ACCORDING TO TICKETED PASSENGERS WE TALKED TO. LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WE’RE HOPING FOR THE BEST. MANY AWARE THAT THEY WERE FLYING DURING A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THAT TSA OFFICERS AT U.S. AIRPORTS WERE WORKING WITHOUT GETTING PAID. I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT WORKED WORKED FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HE KEPT COMPLAINING LIKE, WHAT? THESE DAYS? WHY ARE WE GOING THROUGH THIS? WE WORK SO HARD. WE’VE BEEN IN THIS SYSTEM FOR SO LONG, SO WHY DO WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS? BALTIMORE’S TSA OFFICERS AMONG 61,000 NATIONWIDE REQUIRED TO WORK WITHOUT PAY DURING THE SHUTDOWN. THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR TOLD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AT A HEARING LAST WEEK. AND SHE SAID MANY ARE STILL PLAYING CATCH UP FINANCIALLY FROM THE LAST SHUTDOWN LAST FALL. THAT LASTED 43 DAYS. WE HEARD REPORTS OF OFFICERS SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS AT AIRPORTS TO SAVE MONEY ON GAS, SELLING THEIR BLOOD AND PLASMA, AND TAKING ON SECOND JOBS TO MAKE ENDS MEET. LAWMAKERS ALSO HEARD FROM THE HEADS OF FEMA, CISA, THE SECRET SERVICE AND THE COAST GUARD. THE UNCERTAINTY OF MISSING PAYCHECKS NEGATIVELY IMPACTS READINESS AND CREATES A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. LABOR LEADERS ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE STEEP PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSEQUENCES FOR MEMBERS DURING THE SECOND SHUTDOWN. IN THE SPAN OF FIVE MONTHS. FOR ME, EVENTUALLY IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO DO. I PUT GAS IN THE CAR TO GO TO WORK FOR FREE, OR DO I PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE WITH THAT MONEY FOR MY KIDS? LAWMAKERS LEFT WASHINGTON LAST WEEK FOR A PLANNED RECESS THIS WEEK, WITH NO PLANS TO RETURN. COMPOUNDING CONCERNS FOR MANY ON THE GROUND HERE AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT JUST HOW LONG THIS PARTIAL

    Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs

    Updated: 11:59 PM EST Feb 21, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs as a partial government shutdown continues.The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines. Suspending them could cause headaches for fliers.Video above: TSA officers working without pay amid partial government shutdownHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” She also said that “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

    WASHINGTON —

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs as a partial government shutdown continues.

    The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines. Suspending them could cause headaches for fliers.

    Video above: TSA officers working without pay amid partial government shutdown

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” She also said that “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”

    The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

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  • Las Vegas Airport Accommodates 55 Million Passengers in 2025

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    Posted on: January 31, 2026, 12:22h. 

    Last updated on: January 30, 2026, 01:23h.

    • Harry Reid International Airport welcomed almost 55 million ticketed passengers in 2025
    • The 2025 passenger count was the airport’s third-best year on record
    • The 2025 numbers, however, represent a significant decline from 2024

    Harry Reid International Airport, the main air hub of Las Vegas, served almost 55 million arriving and departing passengers last year.

    Las Vegas airport Harry Reid International
    A Southwest flight takes off from Harry Reid International Airport, with the Sphere, Wynn and Encore, Resorts World, and the Las Vegas Convention Center in the distance. The Las Vegas airport served about 55 million passengers in 2025, down almost 6% from 2024. (Image: Shutterstock)

    Though the official LAS traffic tally of 54,986,334 ticketed passengers making their way through Harry Reid International represented the third-best year on record, the 2025 traffic marked a 5.9% decline from 2024. The year-over-year net loss equated to about 3.46 million fewer passengers through LAS’ two passenger terminals.

    The slowdown in 2025 followed two record-setting years, during which passenger counts climbed to 58.44 million in 2024.

    Following two record-setting years, Harry Reid International Airport served nearly 55 million passengers in 2025 — the third-highest annual total in the airport’s history. This achievement underscores Las Vegas’ enduring appeal as a world-class destination for leisure, business, and special events,” the airport said of the report.

    “Despite aviation industry-wide challenges, the airport maintained seamless operations during a federal government shutdown and became a national leader in supporting federal workers with a donated food and essentials pantry,” the statistics release continued. The airport added that LAS continued to focus on enhancing the passenger experience throughout the year.

    Las Vegas Turbulence

    Las Vegas tourism suffered in 2025. The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported earlier this week that visitor volume was down 7.5% for the year, a net loss of more than 3.12 million guests.

    The tourism decline led to stagnant gaming on the Las Vegas Strip. Gross gaming revenue was up a trivial 0.03% to approximately $8.81 billion.  

    Traffic wasn’t quite as bad at the airport. LAS officials are optimistic about the year ahead.

    “As the city looks ahead to even busier years, 2025 stands as a testament to Las Vegas’s status as a top travel hub, connecting millions to the excitement of the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World,” the airport release concluded.

    Southwest remained LAS’ top airline, accounting for 21.8 million passengers. Delta was a distant second at 5.2 million passengers.

    Not All Stay in Las Vegas 

    The LAS numbers do not include layovers, as an arriving or departing passenger is considered one who goes through security.

    However, all international arrivals count, as they must go through the customs/immigration process upon arrival, regardless of whether Las Vegas is their final destination. For international travelers connecting through Las Vegas to another domestic city, their flights still count as an official LAS arrival. The same goes for departing international layovers through Las Vegas.

    International traffic at Harry Reid isn’t overly robust. Foreign arriving and departing flights accounted for 3.42 million passengers, down 7.4% from the prior year.

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    Devin O’Connor

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  • Man Boarded Air France Flight Outta Phoenix With Phony Ticket, 7 Driver’s Licenses & 20 Credit Cards: Cops – Perez Hilton

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    According to federal authorities, a man allegedly managed to slip through security at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and board an international flight to Paris without a valid ticket, setting off a chain of events that raised serious questions about airport safety.

    The incident unfolded on Sunday, when Qais Ahmad Tillawi allegedly showed up at the airport claiming he had a boarding pass for Air France Flight 69. The plane was scheduled to depart for Paris around 3:50 p.m. that day, and at first glance, nothing seemed wildly out of place. But behind the scenes, red flags were already stacking up.

    Related: Lamar Odom Arrested For DUI — Details

    An FBI affidavit uncovered by multiple media outlets said Tillawi purchased a boarding pass online around 2:00 p.m. and checked in just a couple minutes later, only for the airline to cancel the pass at 2:19 p.m. due to what they described as an “unauthorized credit card.”

    What happened next is deeply unsettling. Around 2:37 p.m., Tillawi allegedly arrived at the airport in a rental car, left it abandoned at the curb, tossed two (?!) jackets into a trash can, and headed straight for the security checkpoint at TSA. Despite the canceled ticket, he allegedly made it through security and into the sterile area of the airport just before 3:00 p.m. Yes, really.

    By the time he reached the gate, at least one customer reportedly noticed something was off and described his behavior as suspicious, per People. Still, he somehow made it onto the jet bridge. When an Air France employee tried to verify his boarding credentials, the system flagged his pass as invalid. But Tillawi allegedly refused to hand over his passport or any other documents, showing it only from a distance and then holding it unnecessarily close to the agent’s face before being waved through.

    Somehow, he got on the plane — and once there, things quickly escalated. Instead of taking a seat, Tillawi allegedly paced through the economy cabin and refused to speak with flight attendants or the captain. He also would not provide his name.

    According to the affidavit:

    “Out of concern for the aircraft and the passengers, the captain ordered Tillawi to disembark the aircraft. Tillawi refused, without a verbal response, and typed on his phone, ‘Send the USA marshal.’”

    At that point, the captain made the call to involve law enforcement. Passengers were de-boarded, and Phoenix cops eventually escorted Tillawi off the aircraft. The FBI then took over the investigation.

    What authorities allegedly found at that point only added to the alarm. Agents say Tillawi was carrying around 20 credit cards, seven driver’s licenses from California and Arizona, a US passport, a Jordanian passport, a Jordanian military service book, and what appeared to be fake employment badges from major institutions including Deloitte, IBM, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

    Sorry, WHAT?!

    Tillawi now faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew and entering a secured airport area without authorization.

    Related: Man Arrested In Investigation Into Woman’s Death Snaps Mugshot In UNBELIEVABLE Hoodie

    But the story doesn’t end there. According to the affidavit, agents also spoke with his brother, who claimed Tillawi had attended Arizona State University, spoke fluent English, and had been fired from PricewaterhouseCoopers back in 2024.

    The brother also alleged Tillawi struggles with drug addiction and has been diagnosed with psychosis — and that he was previously detained in Dubai for suspicious behavior and temporarily committed for mental health treatment. Wow.

    Let’s just hope he gets the help he needs — and that cops get to the bottom of whatever the heck is going on.

    [Image via MEGA/WENN]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Heavy gunfire and blasts heard near airport in Niger’s capital

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    Sustained heavy gunfire and loud explosions have been heard in Niger near the international airport outside the capital, Niamey.

    Multiple eyewitness accounts and videos showed air defence systems apparently engaging unidentified projectiles in the early hours of Thursday.

    The situation later calmed down, reports say, with an official reportedly saying the situation was now under control, without elaborating.

    It is not clear what caused the blasts, or if there were any casualties. There has been no official statement from the military government.

    The gunfire and blasts began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighbourhood near the Diori Hamani International Airport, the AFP news agency reports. They said calm returned after two hours.

    The airport houses an air force base and is located about 10km (six miles) from the presidential palace.

    Niger is led by Abdourahamane Tiani who seized power in a 2023 coup that ousted the country’s elected civilian president.

    Like its neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali, the country has been fighting jihadist groups who have carried out deadly attacks across the region.

    It is also a major producer of uranium.

    A huge uranium shipment destined for export has been stuck at the airport amid unresolved legal and diplomatic complications with France after the military government nationalised the country’s uranium mines.

    “The situation is under control. There is no need to worry,” the Anadolu news agency quoted a Foreign Affairs ministry official as saying, without elaborating.

    The official told the agency they were trying to determine whether the gunfire was linked to the uranium shipment.

    More about Niger from the BBC:

    You may also be interested in:

    [Getty Images/BBC]

    Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

    Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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  • Thousands of flights canceled as major winter storm moves across the US

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    Thousands of flights across the U.S. set to take off over the weekend were canceled as a monster storm started to wreak havoc Saturday across much of the country and threatened to knock out power for days and snarl major roadways with dangerous ice.Roughly 140 million people, or more than 40% of the U.S. population, were under a winter storm warning from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service forecast warned of widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina. By midday Saturday, a quarter of an inch of ice was reported in parts of southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana.”What really makes this storm unique is, just following this storm, it’s just going to get so cold,” said Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The snow and the ice will be very, very slow to melt and won’t be going away anytime soon, and that’s going to hinder any recovery efforts.”Governors in more than a dozen states sounded the alarm about the turbulent weather ahead, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home. As crews in some southern states began working to restore downed power lines, officials in some eastern states issued final warnings to residents. “We are expecting a storm the likes of which we haven’t seen in years,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday while announcing restrictions on commercial vehicle travel and a 35 mph speed limit on highways. She added: “It’s a good weekend to stay indoors.”Little Rock, Arkansas, was covered with sleet and snow Saturday, giving Chris Plank doubts about whether he would be able to make a five-hour drive to Dallas for work on Sunday. While some snow is a yearly event, Plank was concerned most about the ice.”All of the power lines are above ground, so it doesn’t take very much to end up in the dark,” Plank said.Forecasters say the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane. Around 120,000 power outages were reported in the path of the winter storm Saturday afternoon, including about 53,000 in Texas and 45,000 in Louisiana, according to poweroutage.us.In Shelby County, Texas, near the Louisiana border, ice weighed down on pine trees and caused branches to snap, downing power lines. About a third of the county’s 16,000 residents were without power on Saturday.”We have hundreds of trees down and a lot of limbs in the road,” Shelby County Commissioner Stevie Smith said from his pickup truck. “I’ve got my crew out clearing roads as fast as we can. It’s a lot to deal with right now.”All Saturday flights were canceled at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, and all Sunday morning flights also were called off, as officials aimed to restart service Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma’s biggest airport. More than 12,000 flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, a major hub, saw more than 700 departing flights canceled on Saturday and nearly as many arriving flights called off. Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.After sweeping through the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the weather service predicted. “Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive, do not travel, do not do anything that can potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Saturday. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can to put a warm sweater on, turn on the TV, watch ‘Mission Impossible’ for the 10th time, above all to stay inside.” Officials in Georgia advised people in the state’s northern regions to get off the roads by sundown Saturday and be prepared to stay put for at least 48 hours.Will Lanxton, the senior state meteorologist, said Georgia could get “perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade,” followed by unusually cold temperatures. “Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow,” Lanxton said. “Ice, you can’t do anything with. You can’t drive on it. It’s much more likely to bring down power lines and trees.”Crews began treating highways with brine after midnight Saturday, with 1,800 workers on 12-hour shifts, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said.”We’re going to do what we can to keep the ice from sticking to the roads,” McMurry said. “This is going to be a challenge.” The Midwest saw windchills as low as minus 40 Fahrenheit, meaning that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes. The minus 36 F reading in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on Saturday morning was the coldest in almost 30 years.In Minneapolis, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but protesters calling for ICE to leave Minnesota on Saturday still faced an outdoor temperature of minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit.Workers from The Orange Tent Project, a Chicago nonprofit that provides cold-weather tents and other supplies to unhoused people throughout the city, went out to check on those who did not or could not seek shelter.”Seeing the forecasted weather, I knew we had to come out and do this today,” said CEO Morgan McLuckie. Churches moved Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled.School superintendents in Philadelphia and Houston announced that schools would be closed Monday.Some universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford.Around the southeast, people used the cancellations to have some fun. On a hill outside the Capitol building in Nashville, adult sledders on green discs and inflatable pool animals giggled with joy as they slid in the snow. President Donald Trump said via social media on Friday that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials, and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.” Nine states have requested emergency declarations, according to a FEMA briefing document released Saturday. The declarations can unlock federal emergency resources. Trump on Friday approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia, and requests from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia were still pending as of Saturday morning.”I think there are two parts of this storm that make it unique. One is just a broad expanse of spatial coverage of this event … You’ve got 2,000 miles of country that’s being impacted by the storm with snow, sleet, and freezing rain,” said Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. “The other part of this storm that’s really impressive is what’s going to happen right afterward. We’re looking at extreme cold, record cold.” Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Julie Walker in New York, David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, George Walker in Nashville and Laura Bargfeld in Chicago contributed to this report. Amy reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

    OKLAHOMA CITY —

    Thousands of flights across the U.S. set to take off over the weekend were canceled as a monster storm started to wreak havoc Saturday across much of the country and threatened to knock out power for days and snarl major roadways with dangerous ice.

    Roughly 140 million people, or more than 40% of the U.S. population, were under a winter storm warning from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service forecast warned of widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina. By midday Saturday, a quarter of an inch of ice was reported in parts of southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana.

    “What really makes this storm unique is, just following this storm, it’s just going to get so cold,” said Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The snow and the ice will be very, very slow to melt and won’t be going away anytime soon, and that’s going to hinder any recovery efforts.”

    Governors in more than a dozen states sounded the alarm about the turbulent weather ahead, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home. As crews in some southern states began working to restore downed power lines, officials in some eastern states issued final warnings to residents.

    “We are expecting a storm the likes of which we haven’t seen in years,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday while announcing restrictions on commercial vehicle travel and a 35 mph speed limit on highways. She added: “It’s a good weekend to stay indoors.”

    Little Rock, Arkansas, was covered with sleet and snow Saturday, giving Chris Plank doubts about whether he would be able to make a five-hour drive to Dallas for work on Sunday. While some snow is a yearly event, Plank was concerned most about the ice.

    “All of the power lines are above ground, so it doesn’t take very much to end up in the dark,” Plank said.

    Forecasters say the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane.

    Around 120,000 power outages were reported in the path of the winter storm Saturday afternoon, including about 53,000 in Texas and 45,000 in Louisiana, according to poweroutage.us.

    In Shelby County, Texas, near the Louisiana border, ice weighed down on pine trees and caused branches to snap, downing power lines. About a third of the county’s 16,000 residents were without power on Saturday.

    “We have hundreds of trees down and a lot of limbs in the road,” Shelby County Commissioner Stevie Smith said from his pickup truck. “I’ve got my crew out clearing roads as fast as we can. It’s a lot to deal with right now.”

    All Saturday flights were canceled at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, and all Sunday morning flights also were called off, as officials aimed to restart service Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma’s biggest airport.

    More than 12,000 flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, a major hub, saw more than 700 departing flights canceled on Saturday and nearly as many arriving flights called off. Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

    After sweeping through the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the weather service predicted.

    “Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive, do not travel, do not do anything that can potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Saturday. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can to put a warm sweater on, turn on the TV, watch ‘Mission Impossible’ for the 10th time, above all to stay inside.”

    Officials in Georgia advised people in the state’s northern regions to get off the roads by sundown Saturday and be prepared to stay put for at least 48 hours.

    Will Lanxton, the senior state meteorologist, said Georgia could get “perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade,” followed by unusually cold temperatures.

    “Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow,” Lanxton said. “Ice, you can’t do anything with. You can’t drive on it. It’s much more likely to bring down power lines and trees.”

    Crews began treating highways with brine after midnight Saturday, with 1,800 workers on 12-hour shifts, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said.

    “We’re going to do what we can to keep the ice from sticking to the roads,” McMurry said. “This is going to be a challenge.”

    The Midwest saw windchills as low as minus 40 Fahrenheit, meaning that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes. The minus 36 F reading in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on Saturday morning was the coldest in almost 30 years.

    In Minneapolis, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but protesters calling for ICE to leave Minnesota on Saturday still faced an outdoor temperature of minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Workers from The Orange Tent Project, a Chicago nonprofit that provides cold-weather tents and other supplies to unhoused people throughout the city, went out to check on those who did not or could not seek shelter.

    “Seeing the forecasted weather, I knew we had to come out and do this today,” said CEO Morgan McLuckie.

    Churches moved Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled.

    School superintendents in Philadelphia and Houston announced that schools would be closed Monday.

    Some universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford.

    Around the southeast, people used the cancellations to have some fun. On a hill outside the Capitol building in Nashville, adult sledders on green discs and inflatable pool animals giggled with joy as they slid in the snow.

    President Donald Trump said via social media on Friday that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials, and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.”

    Nine states have requested emergency declarations, according to a FEMA briefing document released Saturday. The declarations can unlock federal emergency resources. Trump on Friday approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia, and requests from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia were still pending as of Saturday morning.

    “I think there are two parts of this storm that make it unique. One is just a broad expanse of spatial coverage of this event … You’ve got 2,000 miles of country that’s being impacted by the storm with snow, sleet, and freezing rain,” said Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. “The other part of this storm that’s really impressive is what’s going to happen right afterward. We’re looking at extreme cold, record cold.”

    Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Julie Walker in New York, David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, George Walker in Nashville and Laura Bargfeld in Chicago contributed to this report. Amy reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

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  • Thousands of flights canceled as major winter storm moves across the US

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    Thousands of flights across the U.S. set to take off over the weekend were canceled as a monster storm started to wreak havoc Saturday across much of the country and threatened to knock out power for days and snarl major roadways with dangerous ice.Roughly 140 million people, or more than 40% of the U.S. population, were under a winter storm warning from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service forecast warned of widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina. By midday Saturday, a quarter of an inch of ice was reported in parts of southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana.”What really makes this storm unique is, just following this storm, it’s just going to get so cold,” said Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The snow and the ice will be very, very slow to melt and won’t be going away anytime soon, and that’s going to hinder any recovery efforts.”Governors in more than a dozen states sounded the alarm about the turbulent weather ahead, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home. As crews in some southern states began working to restore downed power lines, officials in some eastern states issued final warnings to residents. “We are expecting a storm the likes of which we haven’t seen in years,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday while announcing restrictions on commercial vehicle travel and a 35 mph speed limit on highways. She added: “It’s a good weekend to stay indoors.”Little Rock, Arkansas, was covered with sleet and snow Saturday, giving Chris Plank doubts about whether he would be able to make a five-hour drive to Dallas for work on Sunday. While some snow is a yearly event, Plank was concerned most about the ice.”All of the power lines are above ground, so it doesn’t take very much to end up in the dark,” Plank said.Forecasters say the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane. Around 120,000 power outages were reported in the path of the winter storm Saturday afternoon, including about 53,000 in Texas and 45,000 in Louisiana, according to poweroutage.us.In Shelby County, Texas, near the Louisiana border, ice weighed down on pine trees and caused branches to snap, downing power lines. About a third of the county’s 16,000 residents were without power on Saturday.”We have hundreds of trees down and a lot of limbs in the road,” Shelby County Commissioner Stevie Smith said from his pickup truck. “I’ve got my crew out clearing roads as fast as we can. It’s a lot to deal with right now.”All Saturday flights were canceled at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, and all Sunday morning flights also were called off, as officials aimed to restart service Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma’s biggest airport. More than 12,000 flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, a major hub, saw more than 700 departing flights canceled on Saturday and nearly as many arriving flights called off. Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.After sweeping through the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the weather service predicted. “Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive, do not travel, do not do anything that can potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Saturday. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can to put a warm sweater on, turn on the TV, watch ‘Mission Impossible’ for the 10th time, above all to stay inside.” Officials in Georgia advised people in the state’s northern regions to get off the roads by sundown Saturday and be prepared to stay put for at least 48 hours.Will Lanxton, the senior state meteorologist, said Georgia could get “perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade,” followed by unusually cold temperatures. “Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow,” Lanxton said. “Ice, you can’t do anything with. You can’t drive on it. It’s much more likely to bring down power lines and trees.”Crews began treating highways with brine after midnight Saturday, with 1,800 workers on 12-hour shifts, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said.”We’re going to do what we can to keep the ice from sticking to the roads,” McMurry said. “This is going to be a challenge.” The Midwest saw windchills as low as minus 40 Fahrenheit, meaning that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes. The minus 36 F reading in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on Saturday morning was the coldest in almost 30 years.In Minneapolis, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but protesters calling for ICE to leave Minnesota on Saturday still faced an outdoor temperature of minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit.Workers from The Orange Tent Project, a Chicago nonprofit that provides cold-weather tents and other supplies to unhoused people throughout the city, went out to check on those who did not or could not seek shelter.”Seeing the forecasted weather, I knew we had to come out and do this today,” said CEO Morgan McLuckie. Churches moved Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled.School superintendents in Philadelphia and Houston announced that schools would be closed Monday.Some universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford.Around the southeast, people used the cancellations to have some fun. On a hill outside the Capitol building in Nashville, adult sledders on green discs and inflatable pool animals giggled with joy as they slid in the snow. President Donald Trump said via social media on Friday that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials, and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.” Nine states have requested emergency declarations, according to a FEMA briefing document released Saturday. The declarations can unlock federal emergency resources. Trump on Friday approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia, and requests from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia were still pending as of Saturday morning.”I think there are two parts of this storm that make it unique. One is just a broad expanse of spatial coverage of this event … You’ve got 2,000 miles of country that’s being impacted by the storm with snow, sleet, and freezing rain,” said Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. “The other part of this storm that’s really impressive is what’s going to happen right afterward. We’re looking at extreme cold, record cold.” Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Julie Walker in New York, David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, George Walker in Nashville and Laura Bargfeld in Chicago contributed to this report. Amy reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

    OKLAHOMA CITY —

    Thousands of flights across the U.S. set to take off over the weekend were canceled as a monster storm started to wreak havoc Saturday across much of the country and threatened to knock out power for days and snarl major roadways with dangerous ice.

    Roughly 140 million people, or more than 40% of the U.S. population, were under a winter storm warning from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service forecast warned of widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina. By midday Saturday, a quarter of an inch of ice was reported in parts of southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Texas and portions of Louisiana.

    “What really makes this storm unique is, just following this storm, it’s just going to get so cold,” said Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “The snow and the ice will be very, very slow to melt and won’t be going away anytime soon, and that’s going to hinder any recovery efforts.”

    Governors in more than a dozen states sounded the alarm about the turbulent weather ahead, declaring emergencies or urging people to stay home. As crews in some southern states began working to restore downed power lines, officials in some eastern states issued final warnings to residents.

    “We are expecting a storm the likes of which we haven’t seen in years,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said Saturday while announcing restrictions on commercial vehicle travel and a 35 mph speed limit on highways. She added: “It’s a good weekend to stay indoors.”

    Little Rock, Arkansas, was covered with sleet and snow Saturday, giving Chris Plank doubts about whether he would be able to make a five-hour drive to Dallas for work on Sunday. While some snow is a yearly event, Plank was concerned most about the ice.

    “All of the power lines are above ground, so it doesn’t take very much to end up in the dark,” Plank said.

    Forecasters say the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival that of a hurricane.

    Around 120,000 power outages were reported in the path of the winter storm Saturday afternoon, including about 53,000 in Texas and 45,000 in Louisiana, according to poweroutage.us.

    In Shelby County, Texas, near the Louisiana border, ice weighed down on pine trees and caused branches to snap, downing power lines. About a third of the county’s 16,000 residents were without power on Saturday.

    “We have hundreds of trees down and a lot of limbs in the road,” Shelby County Commissioner Stevie Smith said from his pickup truck. “I’ve got my crew out clearing roads as fast as we can. It’s a lot to deal with right now.”

    All Saturday flights were canceled at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City, and all Sunday morning flights also were called off, as officials aimed to restart service Sunday afternoon at Oklahoma’s biggest airport.

    More than 12,000 flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday across the U.S., according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, a major hub, saw more than 700 departing flights canceled on Saturday and nearly as many arriving flights called off. Disruptions were also piling up at airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

    After sweeping through the South, the storm was expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the weather service predicted.

    “Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive, do not travel, do not do anything that can potentially place you or your loved ones in danger,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Saturday. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can to put a warm sweater on, turn on the TV, watch ‘Mission Impossible’ for the 10th time, above all to stay inside.”

    Officials in Georgia advised people in the state’s northern regions to get off the roads by sundown Saturday and be prepared to stay put for at least 48 hours.

    Will Lanxton, the senior state meteorologist, said Georgia could get “perhaps the biggest ice storm we have expected in more than a decade,” followed by unusually cold temperatures.

    “Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow,” Lanxton said. “Ice, you can’t do anything with. You can’t drive on it. It’s much more likely to bring down power lines and trees.”

    Crews began treating highways with brine after midnight Saturday, with 1,800 workers on 12-hour shifts, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry said.

    “We’re going to do what we can to keep the ice from sticking to the roads,” McMurry said. “This is going to be a challenge.”

    The Midwest saw windchills as low as minus 40 Fahrenheit, meaning that frostbite could set in within 10 minutes. The minus 36 F reading in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on Saturday morning was the coldest in almost 30 years.

    In Minneapolis, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but protesters calling for ICE to leave Minnesota on Saturday still faced an outdoor temperature of minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Workers from The Orange Tent Project, a Chicago nonprofit that provides cold-weather tents and other supplies to unhoused people throughout the city, went out to check on those who did not or could not seek shelter.

    “Seeing the forecasted weather, I knew we had to come out and do this today,” said CEO Morgan McLuckie.

    Churches moved Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night radio performance without fans. Mardi Gras parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled.

    School superintendents in Philadelphia and Houston announced that schools would be closed Monday.

    Some universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford.

    Around the southeast, people used the cancellations to have some fun. On a hill outside the Capitol building in Nashville, adult sledders on green discs and inflatable pool animals giggled with joy as they slid in the snow.

    President Donald Trump said via social media on Friday that his administration was coordinating with state and local officials, and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.”

    Nine states have requested emergency declarations, according to a FEMA briefing document released Saturday. The declarations can unlock federal emergency resources. Trump on Friday approved emergency declarations for South Carolina and Virginia, and requests from Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia were still pending as of Saturday morning.

    “I think there are two parts of this storm that make it unique. One is just a broad expanse of spatial coverage of this event … You’ve got 2,000 miles of country that’s being impacted by the storm with snow, sleet, and freezing rain,” said Josh Weiss, a meteorologist at NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. “The other part of this storm that’s really impressive is what’s going to happen right afterward. We’re looking at extreme cold, record cold.”

    Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Julie Walker in New York, David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, George Walker in Nashville and Laura Bargfeld in Chicago contributed to this report. Amy reported from Atlanta and Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut.

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  • Sacramento travelers caught in nationwide flight disruptions as winter storm hits

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    ALONE, AND THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY TO GO UP. LET’S GET OVER TO KCRA 3’S CORTEZ. HE’S LIVE AT SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL. CHECK IN ON HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP FOR TRAVELERS IN OUR REGION. DENTON. TRAVELERS FEELING THOSE IMPACTS TONIGHT. CECIL. AS MORE THAN 20 STATES ISSUED AN EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATION AS FLIGHTS DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST. ROLLING BAGS, USUALLY A SIGN FOR TAKEOFF AT SMUD. BUT TONIGHT, A SOUND OF WAITING AS A POWERFUL WINTER STORM ENGULFS MUCH OF THE U.S. WE FOUND OUT AS WE WERE RIDING TO THE AIRPORT HERE THAT IT WAS DELAYED. SO YEAH, WE’LL MISS OUR CONNECTING FLIGHT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CHICAGO BY 6:00. NOW I’M LIKE EIGHT HOURS LATER. AIRLINES CANCELING AND DELAYING FLIGHTS AS CONDITIONS WORSEN FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE EAST COAST, LEAVING TRAVELERS RACING TO CHANGE PLANS IN TIME. DID YOU FIND OUT LIKE THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELED? I O AT 4 A.M. I WAS HERE SINCE 4 A.M. WOW. AND YOU CAN’T FIND A TICKET? MORE THAN 12,000 FLIGHTS CANCELED THIS WEEKEND, AS AIRLINES LIKE DELTA AND AMERICAN WARN OF DELAYS OFFERING TO WAIVE FEES TO MAJOR AIRPORTS LIKE O’HARE. I GOT TO FIND SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING IN CHICAGO. I’M JUST TRYING TO GET ANOTHER TICKET, BUT IT’S SO EXPENSIVE. OR. OR THEY DON’T HAVE IT UNTIL MONDAY. MAYBE. SOUTHWEST WARNING TRAVELERS TO EXPECT DELAYS AT MORE THAN 40 AIRPORTS WITH FLIGHTS TO DALLAS FORT WORTH LEADING CANCELLATIONS, WITH MORE THAN 700. MY FLIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO DALLAS FROM DALLAS TO HOBBY, BUT THAT GOT CANCELED. WE’RE LEAVING ON OUR CRUISE SUNDAY, AND I’M SUPPOSED TO GET AND IT’S SHOWING ME I’M GOING TO GET AT 2:00 IN THE CRUISE LEAVES AT LIKE I THINK LIKE AT FOUR, THERE’S LIKE NO WAY I’LL MAKE IT. YOU CAN’T BLAME ANYBODY BECAUSE NO ONE CAN CONTROL MOTHER NATURE. SAC INTERNATIONAL TELLING TRAVELERS TO CHECK IN WITH THE AIRLINES DIRECTLY, AS THEY’LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THESE FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS ARE EXPECTED

    Sacramento travelers caught in nationwide flight disruptions as winter storm hits

    More than 12,000 flights were canceled this weekend

    Updated: 8:44 PM PST Jan 24, 2026

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    A powerful winter storm is sweeping across much of the United States, triggering widespread travel disruptions and leaving thousands of passengers stranded as airlines cancel and delay flights from the Midwest to the East Coast.More than 12,000 flights have been canceled nationwide this weekend, according to FlightAware, as heavy snow, ice and dangerous winds move through major travel corridors. The impacts are being felt locally as well, with Sacramento travelers facing delays and missed connections while trying to reach destinations in the Southwest and Northeast.“We found out as we were riding to the airport here that it was delayed,” traveler Mark Williams said. “So yeah, we’ll miss our connecting flight.”Passenger Jamie Lichter described a long and frustrating wait. “I would have been in Chicago by 6. Now I’m like eight hours later,” she said.As conditions worsen, airlines are scrambling to manage operations, and passengers are racing to rebook flights or change plans altogether. Southwest Airlines is warning travelers to expect delays at more than 40 airports nationwide. Flights to and from Texas have been hit especially hard, with Dallas-Fort Worth leading the country in cancellations, topping 700 canceled flights. Although Sacramento International Airport isn’t directly affected by the winter storm, they are urging travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra time as the storm system continues to impact travel nationwide.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A powerful winter storm is sweeping across much of the United States, triggering widespread travel disruptions and leaving thousands of passengers stranded as airlines cancel and delay flights from the Midwest to the East Coast.

    More than 12,000 flights have been canceled nationwide this weekend, according to FlightAware, as heavy snow, ice and dangerous winds move through major travel corridors. The impacts are being felt locally as well, with Sacramento travelers facing delays and missed connections while trying to reach destinations in the Southwest and Northeast.

    “We found out as we were riding to the airport here that it was delayed,” traveler Mark Williams said. “So yeah, we’ll miss our connecting flight.”

    Passenger Jamie Lichter described a long and frustrating wait. “I would have been in Chicago by 6. Now I’m like eight hours later,” she said.

    As conditions worsen, airlines are scrambling to manage operations, and passengers are racing to rebook flights or change plans altogether.

    Southwest Airlines is warning travelers to expect delays at more than 40 airports nationwide. Flights to and from Texas have been hit especially hard, with Dallas-Fort Worth leading the country in cancellations, topping 700 canceled flights.

    Although Sacramento International Airport isn’t directly affected by the winter storm, they are urging travelers to check flight status before heading to the airport and to allow extra time as the storm system continues to impact travel nationwide.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Airlines are canceling flights at RDU well before winter storm arrives

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    Raleigh-Durham International Airport has two of these 22-foot long brooms for sweeping snow and ice from runways.

    Raleigh-Durham International Airport has two of these 22-foot long brooms for sweeping snow and ice from runways.


    Richard Stradling

    rstradling@newsobserver.com

    Snow, sleet and freezing rain aren’t expected to reach Raleigh-Durham International Airport until Saturday evening, but airlines have already canceled dozens of flights there.

    Some flights have been scrubbed because of weather conditions in other cities, as the storm moves in from the west toward the Northeast. Others were canceled in anticipation of deteriorating weather in North Carolina.

    The storm is expected to intensify in the Triangle overnight and continue through Sunday, with ice and freezing rain making travel treacherous. RDU officials urge people to check with their airline before venturing out to catch a departing flight or pick someone up at the airport.

    As of noon Saturday, nearly 50 flights scheduled to arrive at RDU had been canceled, including several from places such as Dallas and Nashville already experiencing winter weather.

    More than two dozen departures had also been canceled, and that number is expected to rise. Southwest Airlines has told RDU that it will cease flight operations at the airport at 3 p.m. Saturday, and United Airlines says it will stop at 4 p.m., according to airport spokeswoman Stephanie Hawco.

    Frontier also said it would stop flying at RDU at some point Saturday, Hawco said.

    “We expect to hear from more airlines as the day goes on,” she wrote in an email.

    Several of the flights already canceled at RDU involve American Airlines, which announced that it was adding 3,000 additional seats on its route from its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Saturday in anticipation of weather problems in North Carolina.

    “By adding capacity at its second-largest hub, American is giving customers more options to connect onward and minimize possible disruptions,” the airline said in a statement.

    RDU crews are prepared to keep at least one of its two commercial runways open at all times throughout the storm. Snow and ice have not forced RDU to shut down for any length of time since the historic snow storm of 2000, when more 20 inches of snow and lingering cold closed the airport for two days.

    This story was originally published January 24, 2026 at 12:37 PM.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Richard Stradling

    The News & Observer

    Richard Stradling covers transportation for The News & Observer. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus ferries, bicycles, scooters and just plain walking. He’s been a reporter or editor for 38 years, including the last 26 at The N&O. 919-829-4739, rstradling@newsobserver.com.

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    Richard Stradling

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  • The TSA fee for travelers without REAL ID starts soon. What to know

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    A new fee for travelers without REAL ID starts soon. Here’s what to know about the changes ahead and what to do if you don’t have a REAL ID. In December, the Transportation Security Administration announced that passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have an option to pay a $45 fee.When will the TSA start charging the $45 fee?According to the TSA, the use of TSA Confirm.ID and a $45 fee to use this identity verification will begin on Feb. 1. The fee only applies to travelers without an acceptable form of ID.Why is the TSA charging this fee, and what does it cover? According to TSA officials, the fee “ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs.” The $45 fee allows passengers without accepted ID to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period.What is TSA Confirm.ID and do I have to use it?TSA ConfirmID is an identity verification system that will establish passengers’ identities at security checkpoints.While using TSA ConfirmID is voluntary, TSA officials say that if you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.Can I pay the fee online before I travel?Yes. The TSA has a step-by-step guide to pay the $45 fee online here.If I don’t have a REAL ID or don’t pay the $45 fee ahead of time, how long will it take to get through security?According to a recent news release from the TSA, travelers without REAL IDs that use TSA ConfirmID at the airport “will be subject to additional ID verification, screening measures and potential delays.””Travelers who appear at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID and have not already paid the TSA ConfirmID fee will be subject to additional delays which may result in a missed flight,” the TSA release says. “It is important that airline travelers plan ahead to ensure they have an acceptable form of ID to avoid these additional delays as the process can take up to 30 minutes.” TSA officials urge any traveler without REAL ID or acceptable identification to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers arriving at the airport without paying the fee in advance, there will be information about how to pay at marked locations at or near the security checkpoint in most airports. What are the acceptable uses of ID?Acceptable forms of ID include:REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)U.S. passportU.S. passport cardDHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependentsPermanent resident cardBorder crossing cardAn acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)HSPD-12 PIV cardForeign government-issued passportCanadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cardTransportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)U.S. Merchant Mariner CredentialVeteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)How do I get a REAL ID?Each state handles the REAL ID process differently. You should visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required, but at a minimum, you’ll need to provide documentation showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status.Some states may have additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting them in person for additional guidance and assistance.

    A new fee for travelers without REAL ID starts soon. Here’s what to know about the changes ahead and what to do if you don’t have a REAL ID.

    In December, the Transportation Security Administration announced that passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly will have an option to pay a $45 fee.

    When will the TSA start charging the $45 fee?

    According to the TSA, the use of TSA Confirm.ID and a $45 fee to use this identity verification will begin on Feb. 1. The fee only applies to travelers without an acceptable form of ID.

    Why is the TSA charging this fee, and what does it cover?

    According to TSA officials, the fee “ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs.”

    The $45 fee allows passengers without accepted ID to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period.

    What is TSA Confirm.ID and do I have to use it?

    TSA ConfirmID is an identity verification system that will establish passengers’ identities at security checkpoints.

    While using TSA ConfirmID is voluntary, TSA officials say that if you choose not to use it and don’t have an acceptable ID, you may not be allowed through security and could miss your flight.

    Can I pay the fee online before I travel?

    Yes. The TSA has a step-by-step guide to pay the $45 fee online here.

    If I don’t have a REAL ID or don’t pay the $45 fee ahead of time, how long will it take to get through security?

    According to a recent news release from the TSA, travelers without REAL IDs that use TSA ConfirmID at the airport “will be subject to additional ID verification, screening measures and potential delays.”

    “Travelers who appear at the TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID and have not already paid the TSA ConfirmID fee will be subject to additional delays which may result in a missed flight,” the TSA release says. “It is important that airline travelers plan ahead to ensure they have an acceptable form of ID to avoid these additional delays as the process can take up to 30 minutes.”

    TSA officials urge any traveler without REAL ID or acceptable identification to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers arriving at the airport without paying the fee in advance, there will be information about how to pay at marked locations at or near the security checkpoint in most airports.

    What are the acceptable uses of ID?

    Acceptable forms of ID include:

    • REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
    • State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
    • U.S. passport
    • U.S. passport card
    • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
    • U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
    • Permanent resident card
    • Border crossing card
    • An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
    • HSPD-12 PIV card
    • Foreign government-issued passport
    • Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
    • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
    • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
    • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
    • Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

    How do I get a REAL ID?

    Each state handles the REAL ID process differently. You should visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required, but at a minimum, you’ll need to provide documentation showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence and lawful status.

    Some states may have additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting them in person for additional guidance and assistance.

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  • You Will NEVER Believe What Happened To These MFing OnlyFans Models On This MFing Plane! – Perez Hilton

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    Buckle up, babes, because this story has everything: booze, audacity, American Airlines, handcuffs, and yes, the MFing splits.

    Two OnlyFans models turned a routine flight out of Florida into a full-blown viral circus, and the internet is absolutely eating it up. If you thought your last flight was chaotic because someone reclined too fast, wait until you hear what these two pulled at 30,000 feet… er, uh, before they even made it there.

    Related: Politician Quits After SPICY Doc Spotlights His Teen Daughter’s Successful OnlyFans Career!

    Meet Sania Blanchard, 34, and Jordan Danne Lantry, 31, (pictured above in their mugshots) who were allegedly kicked off an American Airlines plane in Florida last Friday after causing what can only be described as drunken main character energy.

    According to multiple videos now floating around on social media, the pair told airline staff they were drunk and didn’t have their boarding passes. Bold strategy! Unsurprisingly, that did not go over well with the flight crew or authorities.

    Things escalated quickly, and the two were summarily marched off the plane in handcuffs. But did that stop them from performing? Absolutely not. In one unhinged clip, Lantry (while still cuffed) suddenly drops into the splits on the airport floor like she’s auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance: Jailhouse Edition. As officers pull her back up, she calmly explains herself by saying:

    “Sorry, I just had to do a bit of yoga.”

    Hmmm…

    Meanwhile, Blanchard was not about to stay quiet. Another video shows her yelling to anyone who would listen:

    “I am getting kicked off because I did not sit in the right f**king seat!”

    Sure, Jan.

    Another Instagram clip, which pretty much sums up the collective rage of every delayed passenger ever, was captioned:

    “POV: these divas are responsible for your plane deboarding.”

    The footage shows both women being escorted through Miami International Airport, repeatedly dropping into the splits like it’s their emotional support position. Reports say the duo had refused to move to their assigned seats when airline staff asked, which, spoiler alert, is not optional on a commercial flight.

    And the chaos didn’t start on the plane. Earlier footage shows the pair attempting handstands in the airport, twerking, and generally acting like TSA was a background extra in their content creation journey.

    Inside the plane, they even hyped themselves up before things went south. In one clip, Blanchard declares:

    “Look at us! We look like one million dollar.”

    Lantry enthusiastically agrees:

    “The s**t we pull.”

    Moments later, she manifests their fate, saying:

    “We’re going to get kicked out.”

    Prophecy queen! When a flight attendant asked if they had their boarding passes, Lantry replied with jaw-dropping honesty:

    “No, we don’t! Obviously, we’re drunk and you guys don’t want to deal with us.”

    And that’s when they were then escorted off the plane!

    Related: Bonnie Blue Reportedly ARRESTED In Bali For Sex Stunt With ‘Barely Legal’ Guys!

    The models were charged with trespassing on property after being warned, per cops. They were later released from a Miami jail and (plot twist!!!) allowed to board another American Airlines flight the next day. Uhhh…

    Lantry wasted no time gloating online about that, posting:

    “@AmericanAir forgave us because we’re hot and know how to do the splits.”

    Because of course.

    Oh, and the hustle didn’t stop there!!! The pair even started selling merch to cash in on the chaos, offering hats, shirts, blankets, mugs, and shot glasses featuring their mugshots.

    Blanchard also updated her IG bio to read “model that got scorted off the plane busting splits,” proving that when life hands you handcuffs, you make merch. Or something.

    Ch-ch-check out all the videos for yourself (below):

    Wow.

    Well, uh, fly safe out there, people.

    …And maybe keep the yoga on the ground.

    [Image via Instagram/Miami-Dade County Jail]

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    Perez Hilton

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  • Pizza Cat Vending Machine Review: Hot, Bland, And Convenient

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    Last week, I finally traveled to New York City to visit the Kotaku office, hang out with the people who work there, and even meet up with some former staff. It was a great time! Had a blast visiting the city, and getting there was a breeze. However, getting home was a mess and involved me crashing in the Detroit Metro Airport for seven hours before heading home to Kansas City. But it wasn’t all bad news. While in the airport, I found a strange vending machine that dispenses hot personal pizza pies.

    My wife and I landed in Detroit around midnight. After verifying our new tickets to Kansas City with the staff, we picked out a spot near our terminal and killed time until our flight. Once we had set up a home base in the corner of the seating area, not far from a bathroom, charging station, and water fountain, I decided to explore. I quickly stumbled upon a 24/7 area of the airport—mostly deserted at 1 a.m.—that was filled with different vending machines. It was the Pizza Cat machine that caught my eye.

    I was hungry. And I didn’t want to eat more chips and jerky. I wanted something hot and tasty. So a big vending machine promising hot pizzas in five minutes made me excited. I wasn’t alone either. Before I could get to the machine, an older man with a large roller suitcase walked up to the Pizza Cat and began ordering a pizza. He then stepped back and watched. I did too. The machine hides what it does, but I was able to hear what sounded like a small motor and fan kick on.

    About five minutes later, a cardboard box containing the man’s cheese pizza popped out of a slot. He turned around, looked at me, and then sort of shrugged as if to say, “Huh, this is weird.” I replied, “Weird, but hey, it’s pizza!” I must have startled him because he let go of his luggage, which fell to the floor with a loud thud, and in the process nearly dropped his newly acquired pizza. After I helped him get situated, he scurried off to eat his food.

    ©Kotaku

    Meanwhile, I repeated the process he’d just finished and used the large touchscreen to order a pepperoni pizza. Five minutes later, it popped out in a box. As I was grabbing it, another person, a younger man, slipped in behind me to toss away his pizza box. “Pretty good, actually!” he shared with me before leaving. I wasn’t so sure.

    Sitting back down with my wife in the corner of the airport we’d picked out, I opened the box and found a small, very thin, and slightly greasy little pizza. It had a crispy crust and looked okay. But when I picked up a slice, it felt very soft and rubbery. Thankfully, it wasn’t chewy, but the bland dough and tiny amount of sauce were disappointing. The cheese was fine and the pepperoni slices spicy enough to help it not be a completely bland bit of food.  Still, after enjoying NYC pizza just a day before consuming this vending machine pizza, I wasn’t impressed.

    Then again, being able to spend $13 to get a personal pizza whenever I want in the middle of an empty airport at 1 a.m. is nice. If you ever find yourself stuck in the Detroit Metro Airport overnight and crave some food, look for the Pizza Cat vending machine, lower your standards, and enjoy a hot pizza pie. Or something approximating a pizza.

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    Zack Zwiezen

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  • DFW Airport makes changes to curb Christmas congestion. Here’s what to know

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    Passengers wait in line at a TSA security checkpoint inside Terminal C at DFW International Airport on March 1, 2023.

    Passengers wait in line at a TSA security checkpoint inside Terminal C at DFW International Airport on March 1, 2023.


    Elias Valverde II

    Dallas Morning News

    The Dallas-Fort Worth Airport has made some changes to help offset increased traffic and longer wait times for fliers traveling during the holidays.

    Still, travelers should expect substantially increased traffic in and around the airport and increased wait times in TSA lines. Nearly 5 million people are expected to fly to, from and through DFW Airport between Dec. 18 and Jan. 6, according to a DFW Airport news release. Overall passenger traffic during the holiday travel period is also projected to increase by more than 3% compared to last year.

    ⭐ Our editors also recommend:

    DFW Airport changes ahead of holiday travel rush

    Because of construction in the area, Terminal C is expected to have the heaviest traffic. Construction at Terminal C includes a pier-style expansion of 115,000 square feet, nine new gates, new concessions and a new parking garage. A new 15-gate Terminal F, set to open in 2027, is also under construction in the area which could complicate parking and traffic flow.

    The airport has reconfigured traffic patterns for the next several days through Terminal C to alleviate congestion. Signs have been installed to guide traffic through the most highly congested areas of the airport.

    Because of the construction, Terminal C has just two garages open — the North and Central garages — rather than three, as the south garage remains closed for reconstruction.

    The airport has also launched an access point to Terminal A to alleviate traffic congestion for the holidays. The new right-hand access point, opened Dec. 19, removes detours that were previously in effect. The access point opened sooner than the airport anticipated and was fast tracked due to the holiday season.

    When are the busiest travel days?

    Dec. 19 through Monday, Dec. 22, is projected to be the busiest travel period. Dec. 23, 24 and 25 are still expected to be busier than normal as well. DFW also marked Dec. 26 through Dec. 28 as another one of the busiest periods of the holiday season.

    DFW projected that more than 265,000 passengers flew to and from the airport on Dec. 19, and a similar number is expected on Dec. 28. The airport marked those two days as the busiest individual days of the holiday travel period.

    Daily volumes throughout the holiday travel period are expected to be more evenly distributed than during the Thanksgiving travel period. But terminal curbsides are expected to be near the levels they were during Thanksgiving. The busiest periods for curbside pickups are projected to be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27.

    The airport recommends travelers arrive at least two hours before their flight boards for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.

    “Ensuring enough time will assist customers that encounter traffic, construction impacts, congested parking areas, and busy check-in and security screening areas,” the news releases reads.

    What to know about public transit

    Airport officials encourage travelers to use public transportation.

    The most convenient public transit option from downtown Fort Worth is the Trinity Metro TEXRail, which runs from downtown Fort Worth, Haltom City, North Richmond Hills and Grapevine. The TRE line from downtown Fort Worth stops at the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, where passengers can the take the TRE Link Shuttle bus from the stop to the airport, with transfers at each terminal.

    Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Samuel O’Neal

    Fort Worth Star-Telegram

    Samuel O’Neal is a local news reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram covering higher education and southwest Fort Worth. He joined the team in December 2025 after previously working as a staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He graduated from Temple University, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s student paper, The Temple News.

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    Samuel O’Neal

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  • Cabin Crew Confessions: Unhinged Moments at Cruising Altitude

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    Air travel might look calm and orderly from the passenger seat, but ask any flight attendant and they’ll tell you the skies are anything but boring.

    Behind the beverage carts and polite smiles is a front-row seat to some of the strangest, wildest, and most unhinged behavior humans can produce at 30,000 feet.

    Enjoy a handful of WTF things that cabin crew members have ever seen on a flight!

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    Hendy

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  • Parts of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport evacuated after bomb threat, BSO says

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    Deputies evacuated parts of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, after a man claimed he had a bomb in his bag, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.

    Deputies evacuated parts of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, after a man claimed he had a bomb in his bag, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.

    MH

    Deputies detained a man who claimed he had a bomb in his bag at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Tuesday morning, prompting an evacuation in parts of the facility, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.

    Deputies ordered the evacuation of the lower and upper levels of Terminal 4 while did a security sweep, the sheriff’s office said around noon.

    Airport officials said in a statement that the incident is affecting access to pre-security public areas of the arrival and departure levels of the terminal.

    “We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this ongoing investigation,” the airport said in the statement.

    Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Claudinne Caro said the bomb squad is at the airport and has secured the bag.

    This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

    David Goodhue

    Miami Herald

    David Goodhue covers the Florida Keys and South Florida for FLKeysNews.com and the Miami Herald. Before joining the Herald, he covered Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware.

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    David Goodhue

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  • What airports are being hit by FAA cutbacks? How can I navigate the chaos?

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    The Federal Aviation Administration’s move to cut commercial air traffic at 40 airports by as much as 10%, beginning Friday, is expected to have wide-ranging impacts in California and across the nation.

    The cuts have been prompted by the government shutdown, which has left air traffic controllers working without pay. FAA officials say the goal is to maintain travel safety. Since the shutdown began Oct. 1, nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working unpaid — or calling out sick.

    With growing fatigue among controllers, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said he did not want to wait until staffing pressures compromised safety.

    What will change?

    As many as 1,800 flights a day across the country could be canceled.

    The cuts could affect about 1,800 flights and 268,000 passengers in the U.S. a day, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. About 72 flights a day could be cut at Los Angeles International Airport alone, affecting 12,371 passengers a day, Cirium estimated. An additional 105 flights could be canceled at the four other California airports targeted for reductions.

    What airports will be impacted?

    The FAA has not commented publicly. But here is a list from the Associated Press:

    1. Anchorage International in Alaska

    2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia

    3. Boston Logan International in Massachusetts

    4. Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland

    5. Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina

    6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International in Ohio

    7. Dallas Love Field in Texas

    8. Ronald Reagan Washington National in Virginia

    9. Denver International in Colorado

    10. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Texas

    11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County in Michigan

    12. Newark Liberty International in New Jersey

    13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International in Florida

    14. Honolulu International in Hawaii

    15. Houston Hobby in Texas

    16. Washington Dulles International in Virginia

    17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental in Texas

    18. Indianapolis International in Indiana

    19. John F. Kennedy International in New York

    20. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas

    21. Los Angeles International in California

    22. LaGuardia Airport in New York

    23. Orlando International in Florida

    24. Chicago Midway International in Illinois

    25. Memphis International in Tennessee

    26. Miami International in Florida

    27. Minneapolis/St Paul International in Minnesota

    28. Oakland International in California

    29. Ontario International in California

    30. Chicago O`Hare International in Illinois

    31. Portland International in Oregon

    32. Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania

    33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Arizona

    34. San Diego International in California

    35. Louisville International in Kentucky

    36. Seattle/Tacoma International in Washington

    37. San Francisco International in California

    38. Salt Lake City International in Utah

    39. Teterboro in New Jersey

    40. Tampa International in Florida

    When will the reductions begin to show?

    A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused delays for weeks, including at LAX and Burbank airport. But officials said the flight reductions will begin Friday and continue until they amount to a 10% cut.

    Officials urged passengers to check with airlines for the status of their flights but warned flights could be canceled with little notice.

    • The FAA has a website that tracks national airspace issues.
    • Experts advise monitoring your airline websites and getting alerts to your phone.
    • Here are more tips.

    Officials said the decision to cut flights was motivated by data about what areas faced the greatest staffing pressures that could compromise safety.

    “This is not based on what airline … has more flights out of what location,” Duffy said. “This is about where is the pressure, and how do we alleviate the pressure?”

    What about international flights?

    International flights are expected to be exempt from the cuts. But passengers making connecting flights before they head overseas could face issues as the cuts target several of the nation’s busiest hubs, including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando and Miami.

    Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Jenny Jarvie

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  • MCO among 40 U.S. airports reducing 10% of flights amid government shutdown

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    The secretary of transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have announced that starting Friday, there will be a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 U.S. airports as the government shutdown continues.The Orlando International Airport was included among the 40 airports. MCO cutting 10% of its flights a day would impact about 100 flights. This all comes down to safety, federal officials said. The administrator for the FAA said right now, things are running safely, but said they are seeing a level of pressure on certain systems that can’t go unchecked and continue to be safe.The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration announced an unprecedented step they say will relieve some pressure. particularly on air traffic controllers, a 10% reduction in traffic at 40 airports. That’s something FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he hadn’t seen in his 35-year aviation career. “We’re going to look for a radical reduction across these 40 markets over the next 48 hours,” Bedford said.If the government shutdown continues, the reduction in flights is expected to begin on Friday morning. They referred to them as “high volume traffic markets,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the nation’s 40 busiest airports. It’s places where they said they’re seeing pressure start to build as some air traffic controllers stop showing up to work while they aren’t being paid. “We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is building in the system in ways that we feel we need to work towards relieving some of that pressure,” Bedford said. MCO airport officials understand the priority is to maintain safety in the national airspace system.”Since the federal government shutdown, MCO’s operations have been minimally impacted, with few exceptions, thanks to the federal airport partners who continue to come to work. We encourage passengers to contact their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.”The FAA did issue a ground delay at MCO last week due to staffing issues. While the FAA administrator said things are running safely now, after looking at voluntary safety disclosure reports, Bedford said, “We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don’t feel will, if we allow it to go unchecked, will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world.”As the shutdown stretches on, the secretary said data will determine if we see even more restrictions or fewer. He said he’s concerned about disrupting people’s travel. “I’m concerned about that,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said. “But we had to have a gut check of what is our job? Is it to make sure there’s minimal delays or minimal cancellations? Or is, is our job to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe? That is our job, is safety.”It’s not just commercial air travel that will be affected. They also announced Wednesday there will be restrictions on space launches, which Duffy said can “take a lot more attention from controllers.”Full list ANC Anchorage International ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International BOS Boston Logan International BWI Baltimore/Washington International CLT Charlotte Douglas International CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International DAL Dallas Love DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National DEN Denver International DFW Dallas/Fort Worth InternationalDTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County EWR Newark Liberty International FLL Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International HNL Honolulu International HOU Houston Hobby IAD Washington Dulles International IAH George Bush Houston Intercontinental IND Indianapolis International JFK New York John F Kennedy International LAS Las Vegas McCarran InternationalLAX Los Angeles InternationalLGA New York LaGuardia MCO Orlando International MDW Chicago Midway MEM Memphis International MIA Miami International MSP Minneapolis/St Paul International OAK Oakland InternationalONT Ontario International ORD Chicago O`Hare International PDX Portland International PHL Philadelphia International PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International SAN San Diego International SDF Louisville International SEA Seattle/Tacoma International SFO San Francisco International SLC Salt Lake City International TEB Teterboro TPA Tampa International

    The secretary of transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have announced that starting Friday, there will be a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 U.S. airports as the government shutdown continues.

    The Orlando International Airport was included among the 40 airports. MCO cutting 10% of its flights a day would impact about 100 flights.

    This all comes down to safety, federal officials said. The administrator for the FAA said right now, things are running safely, but said they are seeing a level of pressure on certain systems that can’t go unchecked and continue to be safe.

    The Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration announced an unprecedented step they say will relieve some pressure. particularly on air traffic controllers, a 10% reduction in traffic at 40 airports.

    That’s something FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he hadn’t seen in his 35-year aviation career.

    “We’re going to look for a radical reduction across these 40 markets over the next 48 hours,” Bedford said.

    If the government shutdown continues, the reduction in flights is expected to begin on Friday morning.

    They referred to them as “high volume traffic markets,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the nation’s 40 busiest airports. It’s places where they said they’re seeing pressure start to build as some air traffic controllers stop showing up to work while they aren’t being paid.

    “We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is building in the system in ways that we feel we need to work towards relieving some of that pressure,” Bedford said.

    MCO airport officials understand the priority is to maintain safety in the national airspace system.

    “Since the federal government shutdown, MCO’s operations have been minimally impacted, with few exceptions, thanks to the federal airport partners who continue to come to work. We encourage passengers to contact their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.”

    The FAA did issue a ground delay at MCO last week due to staffing issues.

    While the FAA administrator said things are running safely now, after looking at voluntary safety disclosure reports, Bedford said, “We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don’t feel will, if we allow it to go unchecked, will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world.”

    As the shutdown stretches on, the secretary said data will determine if we see even more restrictions or fewer. He said he’s concerned about disrupting people’s travel.

    “I’m concerned about that,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said. “But we had to have a gut check of what is our job? Is it to make sure there’s minimal delays or minimal cancellations? Or is, is our job to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe? That is our job, is safety.”

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    It’s not just commercial air travel that will be affected. They also announced Wednesday there will be restrictions on space launches, which Duffy said can “take a lot more attention from controllers.”

    Full list

    1. ANC Anchorage International
    2. ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
    3. BOS Boston Logan International
    4. BWI Baltimore/Washington International
    5. CLT Charlotte Douglas International
    6. CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
    7. DAL Dallas Love
    8. DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National
    9. DEN Denver International
    10. DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International
    11. DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
    12. EWR Newark Liberty International
    13. FLL Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
    14. HNL Honolulu International
    15. HOU Houston Hobby
    16. IAD Washington Dulles International
    17. IAH George Bush Houston Intercontinental
    18. IND Indianapolis International
    19. JFK New York John F Kennedy International
    20. LAS Las Vegas McCarran International
    21. LAX Los Angeles International
    22. LGA New York LaGuardia
    23. MCO Orlando International
    24. MDW Chicago Midway
    25. MEM Memphis International
    26. MIA Miami International
    27. MSP Minneapolis/St Paul International
    28. OAK Oakland International
    29. ONT Ontario International
    30. ORD Chicago O`Hare International
    31. PDX Portland International
    32. PHL Philadelphia International
    33. PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International
    34. SAN San Diego International
    35. SDF Louisville International
    36. SEA Seattle/Tacoma International
    37. SFO San Francisco International
    38. SLC Salt Lake City International
    39. TEB Teterboro
    40. TPA Tampa International

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  • FAA expected to list airports getting reduced flights during government shutdown

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    Travelers through some of the busiest U.S. airports can expect to learn Thursday whether they’ll see fewer flights as the government shutdown drags into a second month.The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the “high-volume markets” where it is reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, said agency administrator Bryan Bedford. The move is intended to keep the air space safe during the shutdown, the agency said.Experts predict hundreds, if not thousands, of flights could be canceled.“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call out.Mounting staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, Bedford said Wednesday at a news conference.“We can’t ignore it,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes.Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declined during the news conference to name the cities and airports where they will slow air traffic, saying they wanted to first meet with airline executives to figure out how to safely implement the reductions.Major airlines, aviation unions and the broader travel industry have been urging Congress to end the shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest on record.The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system and “forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman in a statement.Duffy warned on Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies if the shutdown drags on long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paycheck next week.Duffy said some controllers can get by missing one paycheck, but not two or more. And he has said some controllers are even struggling to pay for transportation to work.Staffing can run short both in regional control centers that manage multiple airports and in individual airport towers, but they don’t always lead to flight disruptions. Throughout October, flight delays caused by staffing problems had been largely isolated and temporary.But the past weekend brought some of the worst staffing issues since the start of the shutdown.From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends before the shutdown.During weekends from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the average number of airport towers, regional control centers and facilities monitoring traffic at higher altitudes that announced potential staffing issues was 8.3, according to the AP analysis. But during the five weekend periods since the shutdown began, the average more than tripled to 26.2 facilities.___Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Travelers through some of the busiest U.S. airports can expect to learn Thursday whether they’ll see fewer flights as the government shutdown drags into a second month.

    The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the “high-volume markets” where it is reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, said agency administrator Bryan Bedford. The move is intended to keep the air space safe during the shutdown, the agency said.

    Experts predict hundreds, if not thousands, of flights could be canceled.

    “I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”

    Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call out.

    Mounting staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, Bedford said Wednesday at a news conference.

    “We can’t ignore it,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes.

    Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declined during the news conference to name the cities and airports where they will slow air traffic, saying they wanted to first meet with airline executives to figure out how to safely implement the reductions.

    Major airlines, aviation unions and the broader travel industry have been urging Congress to end the shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest on record.

    The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system and “forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman in a statement.

    Duffy warned on Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies if the shutdown drags on long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paycheck next week.

    Duffy said some controllers can get by missing one paycheck, but not two or more. And he has said some controllers are even struggling to pay for transportation to work.

    Staffing can run short both in regional control centers that manage multiple airports and in individual airport towers, but they don’t always lead to flight disruptions. Throughout October, flight delays caused by staffing problems had been largely isolated and temporary.

    But the past weekend brought some of the worst staffing issues since the start of the shutdown.

    From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends before the shutdown.

    During weekends from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the average number of airport towers, regional control centers and facilities monitoring traffic at higher altitudes that announced potential staffing issues was 8.3, according to the AP analysis. But during the five weekend periods since the shutdown began, the average more than tripled to 26.2 facilities.

    ___

    Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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  • FAA readies to list airports getting reduced flights during the government shutdown

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    Travelers through some of the busiest U.S. airports can expect to learn Thursday whether they’ll see fewer flights as the government shutdown drags into a second month.

    The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the “high-volume markets” where it is reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, said agency administrator Bryan Bedford. The move is intended to keep the air space safe during the shutdown, the agency said.

    Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled.

    “I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”

    Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call out.

    Mounting staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, Bedford said Wednesday at a news conference.

    “We can’t ignore it,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes.

    Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declined during the news conference to name the cities and airports where they will slow air traffic, saying they wanted to first meet with airline executives to figure out how to safely implement the reductions.

    Major airlines, aviation unions and the broader travel industry have been urging Congress to end the shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest on record.

    The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system and “forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman in a statement.

    Yamat writes for the Associated Press

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    RIO YAMAT

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