Why Southwest Airlines canceled so many flights during the busiest holiday travel week of the year
Southwest Airlines travelers faced a brutal capstone to their Christmas weekend, as the Dallas-based carrier canceled more than 70% of its flights Monday — approximately 2,900 of them, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware. Another 63% had been canceled by Tuesday, the site said.
Mayor Turner to unveil 10 art commissions created during COVID-19 pandemic for Houston airports
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will join the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Houston Airports Tuesday to unveil 10 works of art commissioned by the City of Houston during the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.
Taking shoes off at the airport is a pain for travelers, but help could be on the way
As millions of people prepare to travel and navigate security checkpoints at airports this week across the United States, one element that can be a nuisance is having to take one’s shoes off while going through a security line.
Houston airports to receive $52M in coronavirus relief funds
HOUSTON – Several airports in the Houston area were awarded a number of federal grants totaling $51,954,856 in relief funds following the economic distress caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Monday. The funding, which was appropriated by Congress in December as part of the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation. “As we look to turn the corner on this deadly pandemic, it’s critical that Texas airports are given every resource they need to handle the coming increase in travel,” Sen. Cornyn said. “I applaud this announcement that will benefit the health and well-being of travelers in the Houston area.”A breakdown of what each airport received:George Bush Intercontinental AirportCRRSA Act Fund: $33, 190,911CRRSA Act Concessions: $4,691,547William P. Hobby AirportAdCRRSA Act Fund: $12,501,271CRRSA Act Concessions: $1,514,127Ellington AirportCRRSA Act Fund: $1,514,127CRRSA Act Concessions: $57,000
Yorkie’s death at airport facility fuels legal fight
The dog died in September at a private facility at New York’s Kennedy Airport used to hold animals from overseas that are denied entry to the U.S. by federal officials. The news was heartbreaking for a woman who says she was the owner-in-waiting for the female Yorkie. “It’s been really, really rough for me to deal with her death,” Rachel Hobbs, of Dayton, Ohio, said in a recent interview. A second Yorkie named Wonderful Baby Blue Diamond was under the care of a veterinary clinic suffering from an intestinal illness, according to court papers filed this week. “The question of who is responsible for any of these charges rests upon whether the seizure was reasonable and constitutional,” the plaintiffs say in court papers.
Record low of Americans expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend
HOUSTON – 2020 Memorial Day weekend travel at Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports is significantly different from past years. “I’ve been here for Memorial Day, and this is nothing like Memorial Day,” said Walt Lowry. Shults said: “Home like they should be.”Every airport system in America is concerned over travel numbers plunging well over 90% during the pandemic. Steve Hennigan, the Chief of Operations for the Houston Airport System, summed up the situation in one word: “slower.”The numbers show it. In April of 2019, the Houston airport system had nearly five million passengers.
Bush Airport among 20 U.S. airports to begin screening for coronavirus; quarantine facilities in place
The CDC already has quarantine facilities in place at 20 ports of entry, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Anchorage, Honolulu, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Miami and Houston. George W. Bush Intercontinental Airport announced the airport will take preventative measures to ensure the community is protected after the CDC announced the expansion. Houston Airports is waiting for further guidance on when screenings will begin and stands ready with our partners to ensure our community is protected. (2/3) — Houston Bush Airport (@iah) January 28, 2020Travelers flying through Bush Intercontinental Airport said they welcome the move. He said the 20 airports involved are “the airports that receive 90 percent of all passengers from China.
San Francisco-area airports among the worst for perimeter security
An investigation conducted by The Associated Press found that San Francisco International Airport has had the most perimeter breaches in the past decade while Mineta San Jose International Airport had the fifth-most. Andria Borba of CBS San Francisco reports on efforts to improve security and stop the breaches.
cbsnews.com