Looking for a great gift? We have the best ideas for every holiday, budget, and type of person in your life. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. To help you pick thoughtful, unique gifts without the stress, we rounded up all the gift guides we've written over the years. Gilbert Espinoza/Business Insider Giving gifts is supposed to be joyful - a way to show someone you care. We rounded up all the gift guides we've written over the years to make gift shopping less stressful. Bookmark this page for easy access to great gift ideas whenever you need them. Table of Contents: Masthead StickyGifts are normally associated with the holidays, but there are many reasons to give a gift at any time of year. From birthdays to graduation to "just checking in," there are so many moments that call for great gifts.As product experts, we spend a lot of time testing and researching the best gifts for all sorts of occasions. Now, we're making it easy for you to access all of our gift guides in one place, so you always have some ideas up your sleeve. Consider this your ultimate gift-giving cheat sheet We've covered gifts for every occasion, holiday, budget, and just about every person in your life - all organized into different categories, which you can find below.Keep scrolling, or click on a link below to jump directly to the category you're looking for. Be sure to bookmark this page as well, so you can always have it on hand when searching for specific gifting needs.And if you're still stumped after taking a look, check out our list of the all-time best products we've ever tested.Below is a full list of all of our gift guides, plus a few of our favorite gifts of all time: Our favorite gifts Fallen Fir Candle (small)Women's Wool Runners (small)Monthly Subscription Service (small)Custom Map (small)Hiking Socks (small)Carry-On (small)Coffee Club (small)Cakes (small)Personalized Gift Box (small) Gifts under $25 Clever gifts under $25 that won't end up getting regiftedThoughtful Father's Day gifts under $25Inexpensive, but thoughtful Mother's Day gifts under $25Thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts from Target — all under $25Affordable tech gifts under $25Last-minute Secret Santa gifts they'll actually want to keep — all under $25Prime-eligible Mother's Day gifts on Amazon that are all under $25Thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts that aren't 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than $100Unique Mother's Day gifts that are Prime-eligibleThoughtful gifts that are Prime eligible and will arrive in 2 days or lessSweet Valentine's Day gifts you can get on AmazonPrime-eligible Mother's Day gifts on Amazon that are all under $25Unique housewarming gifts from Amazon HandmadeAmazon Prime-eligible gifts for graduates that cost less than $100Our favorite gag gifts — all from Amazon Miscellaneous gifts Small gifts and gestures for friends or family members who are having a hard time self-isolating or social distancingGift ideas from 'Shark Tank' that you can get from AmazonMagical 'Harry Potter' gifts even the most devoted Potterheads will loveGifts 'Star Wars' fans of all ages will loveCreative and unexpected gifts for 'Strangers Things' fansDisney gifts you can buy at TargetBaby Yoda gifts they'll absolutely love even if they haven't watched 'The Mandalorian'Great coffee table books for Disney fansCool gift ideas for the music lover in your lifeUseful gifts for the guitar player in your lifeFun gifts that grown-up Disney and Mickey Mouse fans will loveGifts for the outdoor lover in your lifeFun and unique gifts for tea loversIrresistible food gifts, including lobster rolls, pickle subscriptions, and ice cream flightsCool and unexpected gifts from Urban Outfitters for everyone on your listLast-minute outdoor gifts from REI — for everyone from skiers and snowboarders, to campers and hikersFun and whimsical gifts from The Metropolitan Museum of ArtBeautiful coffee table books to give as giftsBest gifts for travelers, including city stickers, personalized luggage, and useful airport lounge membershipsThoughtful gift ideas from Black-owned businessesGift ideas to show nurses and healthcare workers how much you appreciate themGreat gift ideas for anyone who loves running, from muscle recovery systems to ridiculously comfy socksThe best gifts for vegans, from cookbooks to cruelty-free beauty productsThoughtful gifts for yogis of all skill levelsComforting pregnancy loss gifts to show love and supportGifts anyone who just moved into a new apartment will appreciateCreative and thoughtful host gifts that go beyond the classic fruit basketUnique chocolate gifts that go beyond the traditional box of sweetsFun and useful car gifts auto enthusiasts will love — according to a car collectorMakeup gift sets any beauty lover would be ecstatic to receive for the holidaysGreat gifts to buy for the gamer in your lifeAwesome anime gifts, as recommended by a huge fan of the genre Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Moscow Outraged After German Defense Minister Advocates 'First Use' Nuke Policy Against Russia Huge controversy has erupted in Germany over the country's nuclear deterrence posture towards Russia after provocative words by the country's Christian Democrat caretaker defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. She said NATO is "prepared" and ready to activate its nuclear arsenal against Russia if it attacks a member of the military alliance. It appears she was advocating for a "first use" policy when it comes to Russia, in order to dissuade any potential future aggression. She said in an interview early this week: "We have to make it very clear to Russia that in the end – and that is also the deterrent doctrine – we are prepared to use such means so that it has a deterrent effect beforehand and no one gets the idea, for example, the areas over the Baltic States or in the Black Sea to attack NATO partners." Russian Defense Ministry building, Moscow. Source: RIA Novosti “That is the core idea of NATO, this alliance, and it will be adapted to the current behavior of Russia. In particular, we see violations of the airspace over the Baltic states, but also increasing attacks around the Black Sea,” she added.  The comments were made in the wake of this month's rapid deterioration in Russia-NATO relations. After NATO expelled eight Russians on accusations that they were spies from Russia's diplomatic mission to NATO HQ, last week the Kremlin declared it would withdraw from the diplomatic mission altogether, severing contacts completely. And more recently as Reuters reported, "NATO defense ministers agreed a new master plan on Thursday to defend against any potential Russian attack on multiple fronts, reaffirming the alliance's core goal of deterring Moscow despite a growing focus on China." The German defense minister's comments were made in reference to the breakdown in communications with Russia and the implementation of this so-called master plan. With relations deteriorating, despite ongoing cooperation on other key fronts - most notably the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is still awaiting final approval from German regulators before it sends Russian natural gas into Europe - an incensed Russian Defense Ministry summoned the German Embassy’s military attaché in Moscow to account for Kramp-Karrenbauer's words on nuclear strikes. The Russian ministry said in a Monday statement that Berlin’s envoy "was asked to appear before the Main Directorate for Military Co-Operation." The statement described that in the meeting "attention was drawn to the remarks made by German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on nuclear deterrence against Russia, and a diplomatic note was handed over." German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (R), via Anadolu Agency As for the provocative remarks on nuclear deterrence options within Germany, some corners of German parliament also reacted angrily to the "irresponsible" words, with head of the Social Democrats Rolf Mützenich mocking: "It is a mystery to me whether the minister also thought of the nuclear weapons still stored in Germany." Here's what Mützenich said according to European reports: Mützenich is especially known for his pacifist views, having written his 1991 doctoral thesis on nuclear-free regions and regularly argues to exclude the stationing of US nuclear weapons on German soil. “It is a mystery to me whether the minister also thought of the nuclear weapons still stored in Germany,” said Mützenich. It is understood that there are about 20 nuclear bombs of varying sizes lying in wait on German soil at an airbase in Rhineland-Palatinate as a result of NATO nuclear sharing. Lately German and other officials in the EU have expressed deep frustration over being too beholden to Washington's foreign policy and military adventurism abroad, particularly after the failed Afghan debacle and NATO's inability to conduct a safe and efficient evacuation of Kabul airport in August. Tyler Durden Wed, 10/27/2021 - 02:45.....»»

The Transportation Security Administration has set a 20-year record for the number of firearms detected at airport security checkpoints this year despite fewer passengers traveling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field were some of the biggest offenders, ranking No. 2 and No.10 in the nation respectively for the most firearms detected so far this year, according to a TSA press release. More than 230 firearms were detected by TSA officials….....»»

Cleveland Police announced it was "reviewing correspondence" about the Hartlepool by-election in August, but has been silent since. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Dylan Martinez - Pool/Getty Images Police said in August that they were 'reviewing correspondence' on the Hartlepool by-election. It followed Insider reporting on apparent undeclared spending on a jet flight for Boris Johnson. Two months on, Cleveland Police are yet to decide whether or not to open an investigation. Two months after police said they were contemplating whether to investigate Prime Minister Boris Johnson's apparent use of a taxpayer-funded jet in the Hartlepool by-election, officers are yet to decide what to do.The delay prompted criticism from opposition politicians and transparency campaigners, who urged officers to open a formal investigation.Insider revealed in August that the Conservatives' spending return in the Hartlepool Parliamentary by-election, which they won, claimed no expenditure on transport.The statement was despite Johnson flying to a nearby airport, where he made an official visit and then campaign alongside the Tory candidate in the election, Jill Mortimer, who went on to win.The Ministerial Code says "where a visit is for a mixture of political and official engagements, it is important that the department and the Party each meet a proper proportion of the actual cost."Insider subsequently acquired a second Conservative Party spending return for the Tees Valley mayoral contest in which the party also says it spent nothing on transport, despite Johnson also appearing and campaigning with the Tory candidate for the mayoralty.The Conservative Party has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Both party and Downing Street spokespeople have insisted the jet was used solely for government business.Cleveland Police's role in any investigation would be to do with whether the spending returns were accurate, which is a police matter under the Representation of the People Act 1983.The Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests has already declined to investigate whether the incident broke the Ministerial Code.After two months without a new public statement, campaigners and politicians told Insider that Cleveland Police ought to provide an explanation.The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper MP, said an investigation must be opened "without delay"."If the Prime Minister has done nothing wrong then he should welcome an investigation.""The public deserve to know whether or not the PM used a tax-funded jet to do election campaigning and whether the Conservative Party failed to declare or pay for it."This government has played fast and loose with the Ministerial Code before, taking voters for granted; an investigation into these allegations needs to happen without further delay."Naomi Smith, chief executive of the internationalist campaign group Best for Britain, told Insider: "The Conservatives cannot be allowed to use taxpayer money like a campaign slush fund and two months on from saying they are reviewing the matter, Cleveland Police are yet to disclose their findings on what appears to be a clear breach of electoral law."Sunlight is the best disinfectant and this is an issue that cuts to the core of transparency and fairness of our elections. If the police are not taking any action, they must explain why."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The purchase by a leading rental car company reflects its confidence that electric vehicles are gaining acceptance (DETROIT) — Hertz announced Monday that it will buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla, one of the largest purchases of battery-powered cars in history and the latest evidence of the nation’s increasing commitment to EV technology. The news of the deal triggered a rally in Tesla’s stock, driving the carmaker’s market value over the $1 trillion mark for the first time. The purchase by one of the world’s leading rental car companies reflects its confidence that electric vehicles are gaining acceptance with environmentally minded consumers as an alternative to vehicles powered by petroleum-burning internal combustion engines. In an interview with The Associated Press, Mark Fields, Hertz’ interim CEO, said that Teslas are already arriving at the company’s sites and should be available for rental starting in November. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Hertz said in its announcement that it will complete its purchases of the Tesla Model 3 small cars by the end of 2022. It also said it will establish its own electric vehicle charging network as it strives to produce the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America. Fields wouldn’t say how much Hertz is spending for the order. But he said the company has sufficient capital and a healthy balance sheet after having emerged from bankruptcy protection in June. The deal likely is worth around $4 billion because each Model 3 has a base price of about $40,000. It also ranks at the top of the list of electric vehicle orders by a single company. In 2019, Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, a startup manufacturer of electric van, pickup trucks and SUVs. Amazon is an investor in Rivian. The Hertz order sent Tesla shares soaring nearly 13% to a record closing price of $1,024.86, and pushed the world’s most valuable automaker’s total market value to just over $1 trillion. The wealth of CEO Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, grew 11.4% to $255.8 billion, according to Forbes. In his interview with the AP, Fields made clear his belief that electric vehicles are increasingly moving into the mainstream and that Hertz intends to be a leading provider of EVs to rental customers. He pointed to surveys showing that over the past five years, consumer interest in electric vehicles has grown dramatically. “More are willing to try and buy,” he said. “It’s pretty stunning.” Fields said that Hertz, which is based in Estero, Florida, is in discussions with other automakers, too, about buying additional electric vehicles as it expands its EV fleet as more models enter the marketplace. Hertz also is investing in its own charging network. Fields said it has plans for 3,000 chargers in 65 locations across the United States by the end of 2022 and 4,000 by the end of 2023. Many of the sites will be at Hertz locations such as airports, he said, while others will be in suburban areas. Customers also would be able to use Tesla’s own large charging network for a fee, Fields said. The company has a network of about 25,000 chargers worldwide. Fields declined to say how much Hertz will charge to rent the Teslas or whether they would be more expensive for customers than gas-powered vehicles. Daniel Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note Monday to investors that Hertz’s order represents a “major feather in the cap” for Tesla and shows that a broad adoption of electric vehicles is under way “as part of this oncoming green tidal wave hitting the U.S.” China and Europe have been ahead of the U.S. on vehicle electrification. But demand in the United States is accelerating, Ives noted, with Tesla leading the way, followed by startup Lucid Motors, General Motors, Ford and others that are chasing a potential $5 trillion market opportunity over the next decade. In an interview, Ives said he expected other rental car companies to follow Hertz’s lead. “It’s a wake-up call for the rest of the industry as well,” he said. Ives suggested that the deal will help Tesla and other manufacturers by giving thousands of consumers the experience of driving electric vehicles who might not otherwise have done so. “It’s the ultimate test drive,” he said. “For a company that doesn’t normally market, this is the best brand and marketing deal they’ve ever struck,” he said of Tesla. Hertz’s order may also help alleviate a nationwide shortage of rental cars, he said. Automakers have slashed production and sales to rental car companies because of a global shortage of computer chips. Still, Ives said he doesn’t expect Hertz to receive significant numbers of Teslas until the automaker’s new factory near Austin, Texas, starts producing late next year. Hertz likely will charge customers more to rent the Model 3s compared with conventional vehicles with combustion engines, Ives noted. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, two months after the coronavirus erupted across the country. It was among the first major corporations to be felled by the pandemic as infections surged and shut down travel on a global scale for both companies and vacationers. In October, Hertz named Fields, a former Ford Motor Co. CEO, as its interim chief executive. Shortly after Hertz’s announcement Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board released a letter from its chairwoman chastising Tesla for failing to respond to recommendations that emerged from several fatal crash investigations involving the company’s Autopilot partially automated driver-assist system. The agency recommended four years ago that Tesla limit where its Autopilot system can operate and that it better monitor drivers to make sure they’re paying attention......»»

Aha!'s inaugural flight took to the sky on October 24 from Reno-Tahoe Airport to Tri-Cities Airport in Washington state. Aha! livery ExpressJet Airlines American regional carrier ExpressJet Airlines ceased operations on September 30, 2020, after decades of flying. The carrier was reborn as budget carrier Aha! on October 24, flying from Reno, Nevada to Pasco-Tri-Cities, Washington. Aha! will start with eight destinations from its Reno base, but plans to expand to 20+ in the coming months. Major US regional carrier ExpressJet Airlines ceased operations on September 30, 2022, but after a year of sitting stagnant, the airline has been reborn as a new low-cost carrier called Aha!, which stands for "air-hotel-adventure."ExpressJet was once one of the country's largest and most prestigious regional airlines that performed flights for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airline, however, the carrier only flew for United in its final years. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, many carriers had to cut costs and routes to make up for losses due to low demand, and ExpressJet was an early casualty having lost its contract with United to regional competitor CommutAir.ExpressJet may have temporarily closed its doors, but its defunct operation was not permanent. In September 2021, the regional carrier announced an all-new business venture in the form of Aha!, a low-cost airline based out of Reno, Nevada.Take a look at ExpressJet's fall from grace and rebirth as an indepedent leisure carrier. ExpressJet, like most airlines, started 2020 strong. A steady stream of pilots and flight attendants were eager to join its ranks and United Airlines had entrusted the carrier with flying a new, larger aircraft type, the Embraer E175, less than a year earlier. A United Express Embraer E175 regional jet. Austin Deppe / Shutterstock.com Source: ExpressJet Airlines Its flagship aircraft was the Embraer ERJ145, a 50-seat regional aircraft that's a favorite among US airlines. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Austin Deppe/Shutterstock.com One of the US' largest carriers by fleet size already, ExpressJet announced on February 24, 2020 that it would take on 36 additional ERJ145s, a plan that would make the airline the largest operator of the Brazilian plane. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Source: ExpressJet Airlines The next month, the coronavirus pandemic decimated air travel, and the airline industry heavily contracted. A flight attendant awaiting passengers on an empty regional jet during the coronavirus pandemic. Carlos Barria/Reuters After evaluating its regional network, United selected rival regional carrier CommutAir to exclusively fly the ERJ145, crippling ExpressJet. The July 30 announcement gave employees two months' notice that the airline would be ceasing operations. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Marc Seguin/Shutterstock.com Source: ExpressJet Airlines With air travel still at reduced levels, it was clear that ExpressJet wouldn't find a home elsewhere and the airline agreed to close its doors on September 30, 2020, ending a 41-year history for the airline that can trace its earliest routes to Atlantic Southeast Airlines in 1979. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Tim Boyle/Newsmakers Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution Around 1,400 pilots and countless more flight attendants, mechanics, and other employees lost their jobs overnight. But it largely went unnoticed as the average flyer doesn't know ExpressJet as they do the airlines it flew for as regional airlines often don't have their own brand. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Robert Alexander/Getty Regional aircraft play a vital role in the hub-and-spoke route system that most airlines employ. A Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ 200 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Austin Deppe/Shutterstock.com Regional airlines typically serve smaller cities or routes with less demand that would otherwise go unserved by the major airlines A Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ 700 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket:Getty Major airlines brought regional carriers into the fold beginning in the 1980s with American Airlines starting the American Eagle regional brand, industry analyst Henry Harteveldt told Business Insider. An American Eagle Airlines ATR 72 aircraft. Ivan Cholakov/Shutterstock.com Before then, regional airlines were independent operations that sold their own tickets and marketed their own flights. Flyers could get from Los Angeles to New York on American, for example, but would then have to buy another ticket on another airline to get to Binghamton or Albany. A Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. Keith Tarrier/Shutterstock.com Bringing regional operations under one umbrella, Harteveldt explained, allowed for travelers to go from point A to point B on one airline, one itinerary, and one ticket. Tails of three major airlines in the early 2000s. Tim Boyle/Getty Regional carriers eventually became reliant on the major airlines for flying contracts and stopped selling their own tickets. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Robert Alexander/Getty Images They even adopted the branding of the airlines for whom they'd fly - including the paint jobs of their aircraft and the uniforms of their crew - so passengers would have no idea they were actually flying on a different airline. A Delta Air Lines regional jet aircraft. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/File Photo ExpressJet did try to launch a brand of its own - selling tickets and marketing flights independent of any airline and using planes painted in its own livery - but it was unsuccessful. An Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Jesse Grant/WireImage/AP The short-lived endeavor saw ExpressJet operate point-to-point routes that saw no competition from the airlines. An Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Jesse Grant/WireImage/AP Source: ABC News Rising fuel costs were largely to blame with the airline closing up its independent operation on September 2, 2008. An Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. John M. Heller/Getty Source: Santa Barbara Independent And while airlines like ExpressJet would once fly for multiple carriers at once, the past decade has seen more regional carriers limit their flying to only one. A United Express Embraer E175 aircraft. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters ExpressJet eventually stopped flying for Delta and American and was only flying for United in its last years. A United Express Embraer E175 regional jet. Markus Mainka / Shutterstock.com At the time, United was a strong partner but limiting its operations to one airline put all of its eggs in one basket. United Airlines passenger jets tax at Newark Liberty International Airport. Reuters ExpressJet also wasn't the only regional airline to go under in 2020 with other carriers included Compass Airlines, flying for Delta and American… An American Eagle Embraer E175 regional jet. Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock.com And Trans States Airlines, flying exclusively for United. A Trans States Airlines Embraer ERJ145 aircraft. Robert Alexander/Getty Images At its peak, ExpressJet had nearly 250 aircraft in its fleet, making it larger than Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines today. An Embraer ERJ145 regional aircraft. Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Source: Securities and Exchange Commission Colin Crane, a former ExpressJet first officer flying the Embraer E175, described the airline as filled with dedicated professionals that knew its high worth in the industry and had high standards for its pilots. "We were the little airline that could," Crane told Business Insider. A United Express Embraer E175 regional jet. Robert Alexander/Getty "We were known by our mainline partners as an airline that would, come hell or high water, accept the challenges that our mainline partners posed to us and complete them with the same ExpressJet style and standards of service," Crane said. A United Airlines Embraer E175 regional jet. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty United's decision came as airlines were desperately trying to cut costs in the immediate aftereffect of the coronavirus pandemic's peak in the spring. CommutAir was likely cheaper as a smaller airline with less overhead. Parked United Airlines aircraft during the coronavirus pandemic. Associated Press CommutAir just began flying the Embraer ERJ145 for United in 2016 and is now being entrusted with a contract to fly them exclusively. A United Express Embraer ERJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines. Robert Alexander/Getty But, according to Crane, no other carrier came close to ExpressJet's level of reliability, noting that the airline's record earned it the nickname "SureJet." An Embraer ERJ145 regional aircraft. aviation images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty However, ExpressJet's demise was not permanent. Exactly one year after closing its doors, the carrier relaunched its commercial operation with a charter flight from Tallahassee, Florida to Anderson, South Carolina ferrying a sports team. The flight is just the start of ExpressJet's continued legacy as a regional carrier. ExpressJet Airlines first commercial flight since ceasing operations ExpressJet Airlines Source: ExpressJet Airlines In addition to charter operations, ExpressJet has taken its high standard of reliability and put it into an all-new business venture known as "air-hotel-adventure," or simply, Aha!, marking the airline's second attempt as an independent carrier. Aha! livery ExpressJet Airlines Source: Aha! Aha! is ExpressJet's new low-cost leisure brand that will connect smaller markets in a point-to-point network. Aha! Embraer 145 aircraft concept Aha! Source: Aha! The relaunch will allow ExpressJet to recall from the 2,700 employees furloughed after it ceased operations in 2020. As part of the reboot, the airline has reached contract agreements with both its flight attendant and dispatch unions and is in the final stages of its contract with its pilot union. ExpressJet flight attendants ExpressJet Airlines Source: ExpressJet Airlines Aha!'s inaugural flight took to the sky on October 24 from Reno-Tahoe Airport to Tri-Cities Airport in Washington state. The route was the first of eight nonstops that Aha! will operate from Reno across the West Coast. Aha! inaugural flight from Reno, Nevada to Pasco/Tri-Cities, Washington RadarBox Source: RadarBox, Aha! The other seven destinations on the airline's route map are Bakersfield, California; Ontario, California; Fresno, California; Eureka, California; Medford, Oregon; Eugeue, Oregon; and Redmond, Oregon. All eight routes will be in service by November 10, though Aha! plans to expand to 20+ cities in the coming months. Aha! route map Aha! Source: Aha!, A new leisure airline is launching $49 one-way flights from Reno to 8 West Coast destinations Aha! will be powered by a fleet of 50-seater Embraer 145 regional jets in a 2x1 configuration, meaning no middle seats. The planes are owned by ExpressJet but have been rebranded with the Aha! logo across the fuselage, though ExpressJet flight crews will still man the aircraft. Aha! seat map Aha! Source: Aha! Introductory fares run as low as $49 one-way for flights booked by November 15 for travel through December 23. Aha! tail logo ExpressJet Airlines Source: Aha! "We're really excited to provide Tri-Cities residents the opportunity to take short trips to Reno and Lake Tahoe without the hassle of a long drive or multiple airport stops and layovers," ExpressJet CEO Subodh Karnik said in a release. Aha! CEO Subodh Karnik at inaugural flight ExpressJet Airlines Source: Aha!, ExpressJet Airlines Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A company that runs a Chick-fil-A and other concessions said that it needed to hire at least 38 workers but that only two people applied. Concessions International, which participated in the job fair at the Denver airport over the weekend, wanted to hire at least 38 workers, but only two people applied, a local ABC affiliate reported. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images A job fair at Denver's airport on Saturday attracted just 100 people, an exec told a local outlet. He said organizers had hoped 5,000 people would come to fill both entry-level and management roles. A concessions company said that it needed to fill 38 jobs but that only two people applied. Only about 100 people turned up to a job fair on Saturday aimed at plugging Denver International Airport's huge labor shortage, Denver's ABC affiliate reported.Dennis Deslongchamp, the president of the Denver Concessionaires Association, told KMGH that organizers had hoped for about 5,000 people at the fair, which he called a "very lofty goal."Organizers had wanted to fill about 1,000 jobs at the airport, but only about 100 people came to the four-hour fair, Deslongchamp told the outlet.Derik Mortenson, the director of operations at Concessions International, said the organizers "were expecting the masses to come knocking on our door."Mortenson said that Concessions International - which has eight concessions at the airport, including branches of Chick-fil-A and Wetzel's Pretzels - had needed to hire at least 38 workers but that only two people applied.The US's labor shortage has affected industries ranging from education and healthcare to trucking and restaurants. Record numbers of Americans have quit their jobs in search of better wages, benefits, and working conditions.The DCA and airport leadership organized the job fair at the airport's United Club with representatives from nearly 170 concessions, KMGH reported.Jobs ranged from entry-level positions to top management roles, Deslongchamp said.Free flu and COVID-19 jabs were available at the fair, too.Elisa Lalama, the human-resources director for Skyport Hospitality, which runs concessions at the airport including Shake Shack, Snooze A.M. Eatery, and Dunkin', told the outlet that the company was looking to hire more than 150 workers."We are at such a staffing deficit that we'd be grateful for just five," Lalama said.Deslongchamp said that he didn't consider the event a failure and that he hoped to run it annually.The airport's hiring woes aren't limited to its concessions.Its labor shortage could be contributing to huge airport-security lines as travel rebounds, The Denver Post reported last month.The airport also hasn't been able to fully reopen its shuttle bus that ferries travelers to the airport because of a shortage of drivers at its shuttle-bus contractor, The Burlington Record reported.Last month, about 350 janitors at the airport voted to authorize a strike for better pay and workloads."We are sick of being understaffed, overworked, underpaid, and undervalued for our work," a janitor who has worked at the airport for 16 years told his branch of the Service Employees International Union.Are you a business struggling to hire, or a worker who recently quit your job over pay, benefits, or working conditions? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com.Expanded Coverage Module: what-is-the-labor-shortage-and-how-long-will-it-lastRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A company that runs a Chick-fil-A and other concessions said it needed to hire at least 38 workers, but only two people applied. Concessions International wanted to hire at least 38 workers, but only two people applied, ABC7 reported. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images A Denver Airport job fair on Saturday attracted just 100 attendees, an exec told ABC7 Denver. He said organizers had hoped 5,000 people would come to fill both entry-level and management roles. A concessions company needed to fill 38 jobs - but only two people applied. Only about 100 people turned up to a job fair aimed at plugging Denver International Airport's huge labor shortage.Denver Concessionaires Association (DCA) President Dennis Deslongchamp told ABC7 Denver that organizers had hoped for around 5,000 people at the fair on Saturday, which he called a "very lofty goal."Organizers wanted to fill around 1,000 jobs at the airports, he said.But only around 100 people came to the four-hour fair, Deslongchamp told ABC7.Derik Mortenson, director of operations at Concessions International, told the station: "We were expecting the masses to come knocking on our door." The company has eight concessions at the airport including branches of Chick-fil-A and Wetzel's Pretzels. Mortenson said that the company had needed to hire at least 38 workers, but that only two people applied.The US is suffering from a labor shortage that's hitting industries ranging from education and healthcare to trucking and restaurants. Record numbers of Americans have been quitting their jobs in search of better wages, benefits, and working conditions.The DCA and airport leadership organized the job fair at the airport's United Club, with representatives from close to 170 concessions, including stores and restaurants, in attendance, ABC7 reported.Jobs ranged from entry-level positions to top executive management roles, Deslongchamp said.Free flu and COVID-19 jabs were available at the fair, too.Elisa Lalama, the HR director for Skyport Hospitality, which runs concessions at the airport including Shake Shack, Snooze A.M. Eatery, and Dunkin', told the station that the company was looking to hire more than 150 workers to plug its labor shortage."We are at such a staffing deficit that we'd be grateful for just five," Lalama said.Deslongchamp said he didn't consider the event a failure, and that he hoped to run it annually in future.The airport's hiring woes aren't just limited to its concessions.The Denver Post reported that the airport's labor shortage could be a contributor to the huge lines for airport security as travel rebounds. The airport also hasn't been able to fully reopen its shuttle bus that ferries travelers to the airport because of a shortage of drivers at its shuttle-bus contract, The Burlington Record reported.Last month, 350 janitors at Denver International Airport voted to strike for better pay and workloads. "We are sick of being understaffed, overworked, underpaid, and undervalued for our work," a janitor who had worked at the airport for 16 years told his branch of the Service Employees International Union.Are you a business struggling to hire, or a worker who recently quit your job over pay, benefits, or working conditions? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com.Expanded Coverage Module: what-is-the-labor-shortage-and-how-long-will-it-lastRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Nasdaq-listed vehicle-maker Xpeng is planning to mass produce the X2 flying car by 2024. The vehicle can operate both on the roads and in the air. An Xpeng Voyager X2 electric flying car. Long Wei/VCG/Getty Images Chinese electric vehicle-maker Xpeng is planning to mass produce a flying car by 2024. The flying car is being developed by Xpeng affiliate, HT Aero. The company is aiming to price the X2 under 1 million Chinese yuan ($157,000.) Chinese electric-vehicle startup Xpeng introduced a flying car over the weekend, which the company says it plans to mass produce by 2024.The Xpeng X2 vehicle is being developed by affiliate HT Aero, a flying car startup, which raised over $500 million in its latest funding round last week.The low-altitude flying car has a steering wheel for driving on roads as well as a single lever for flight modes, according to TechCrunch.According to a Xpeng website post, the X2 features rotors that can be folded away when the car is operating on roads and expanded when the vehicle is flying. It can seat two people. Xpeng is touting the flying car for use in urban settings, like going from the airport to the office. The vehicle has a maximum flight time of 35 minutes.The Nasdaq-listed electric-vehicle maker plans to sell the car at a price point below 1 million Chinese yuan ($157,000), according to Techcrunch, citing CEO He Xiaopeng.Also known as electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, such air taxis are not commercially available yet, but a study released in July by credit broker Pentagon Motor Group estimated the first flying cars would cost more than £535,8331 ($738,000).Flying cars have captured the attention of vehicle makers and investors, with giants like General Motors, Toyota, and Hyundai among those in the race. But even as more companies turn their attention to flying cars, challenges remain, including battery technology and safety standards, Insider's Eric Adams reported in January.Xpeng, which is one of Tesla's closest rivals in China, released an electric sedan earlier this year that undercut Tesla's pricing by more than a third. The Chinese company has been recording record growth in China this year: It said it delivered more than 30,00 vehicles in the first half of 2021, a year-over-year increase of 459%.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Upgrades that were once incredibly common for even the lowliest of elite frequent flyers are now harder to attain. But elite status still has its perks. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider More travelers have been returning to the skies amid the vaccine rollout and returning to work. Travelers with airline elite status, as a result, are starting to see their top perk of complimentary first class upgrades becoming less attainable. Elite status still has perks like complimentary checked baggage and priority access to check-in lanes and while boarding. There's often no better way to travel than in first class, and the only thing better than flying in first class is not having to pay for it. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Complimentary upgrades to first class are a perk of having elite frequent flyer status with an airline. Just one upgrade can increase the value of a ticket by more than double the original purchase price. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider As a Silver Medallion status holder with Delta Air Lines, I've had luck earning in scoring free upgrades to premium cabins during the pandemic. A trip I took on Delta in February yielded more than $800 in upgrades while a trip in May yielded more than $500. Flying Delta One on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-400. Thomas Pallini/Insider Here's how I've managed to score hundreds of dollars worth of first class upgrades during the pandemic.  But as more travelers return to the skies for business and leisure, first class cabins are filling up and complimentary upgrades are becoming harder and harder to come by. Some airlines are also dropping prices on paid upgrades to first class to entice economy class flyers to make the jump. A first class seat on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200. Thomas Pallini/Business Insider With summer over and Americans more at ease with flying, I wanted to see how hard it was to land a coveted first class upgrade on a recent trip. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I booked Delta on a recent flight from New York to Mexico City, Mexico to see how I'd fare as an elite status holder. Here's what I found. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider One thing I've learned when booking flights with the hope of getting an upgrade is that it helps to be strategic. When searching flights to Mexico City, for example, I opted for a flight on a wide-body aircraft as those aircraft often have a great number of first class seats than single-aisle aircraft. Flying Delta One on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-400. Thomas Pallini/Insider I booked Delta's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft for the five-hour flight to Mexico's capital. That aircraft has a total of 26 first class seats available and 12 were open at the time I booked, just three weeks before the flight. A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty Delta clearly wasn't having an easy time selling first class seats given the fact that so many seats were open and an upgrade from economy class was only selling for $138.68. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Part of me was tempted to just pay the upgrade fee and guarantee a first class seat. But I wanted to leave it to chance, even if it meant risking a long flight in economy class. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider My chances of securing an upgrade seemed great but then the number of open seats started to dwindle as the flight's departure approached. The 12 seats went down to eight the week before the flight, and then eventually to three the day before the flight. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City. Thomas Pallini/Insider As a Silver Medallion, my upgrade would be processed no sooner than 24 hours before departure. And there's no telling how soon before the flight it would clear. So I headed to the airport with no upgrade. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider My hope started to fade as I fell further and further down the upgrade list. It was par for the course as I held the lowest tier of frequent flyer status and only booked the flight three weeks prior. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City. Thomas Pallini/Insider I eventually settled to the ninth spot on the upgrade list and it was becoming certain that I wouldn't be in first class on this flight. I was, however, first in line for an upgrade to Delta's Comfort+ cabin which features extra legroom seats. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Delta was also selling an upgrade to those seats, but for far cheaper. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City. Thomas Pallini/Insider And while I'd normally take a seat in Comfort+ without issue, the only availability was for aisle and middle seats. I preferred to sit in a window seat for the long flight so I opted against the upgrade. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider It was becoming clear that I would go without any upgrade on this flight. And that was fine with me as I'm no stranger to economy class and preferred a window seat over an upgrade. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider But having elite status isn't just about upgrades. At check-in, for example, I was able to use the exclusive Sky Priority check-in area and didn't have to wait too long in line to get a boarding pass. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Just that perk alone made having the elite status worthwhile since it saved me at least 15 minutes of standing in line, from my estimation. After that, Mexico was just a flight away. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I scanned my boarding pass, however, and was given a slip of paper with a new seat assignment in the Comfort+ cabin. The downside was that it was for an aisle seat. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I didn't get to ask the gate agent why I was given the aisle seat when I opted against it but I wasn't all too happy with the upgrade. As ungrateful as it may sound, I truly valued the window seat more over the upgrade. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City. Thomas Pallini/Insider My new seat for the flight was 14F, an aisle seat on the far side of the cabin. At the very least, I wouldn't be on the side of the aircraft that the sun was going to hit on the way down to Mexico. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider The seat had all the standard economy class amenities but did offer 35 inches of legroom, between two to three inches more than in regular economy. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Source: SeatGuru I sat down and got comfortable for the long flight ahead. The seat also offered a decent-sized in-flight entertainment screen, USB charging port, and 110v AC power outlet. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider And to my luck, the window seat never filled up. I quickly moved over to occupy it once the boarding door closed. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider The flight was delayed by around a half-hour due to maintenance troubles on the aircraft. But we were soon on our way and bound for Mexico. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider The in-flight service began shortly after takeoff with the beverage offering. Alcohol is complimentary for Comfort+ passengers but I went with soda water as it was much too early to begin drinking. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Next came the snack service, which consisted of a snack basket being passed around with more premium offerings than what is served in regular economy class. Selections included chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, Kind bars, Biscoff cookies, and more. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider This was the first time during the pandemic that I got to pick from a snack basket that was being passed around. Snacks are very clearly back on Delta. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I was surprised, though, when flight attendants said that this would be the first and last time that snacks would be distributed, and I made sure to grab extras on their advice. I know Mexico isn't classified as a true international destination when it comes to the in-flight service but it was still a five-hour flight. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider And it didn't seem like I was missing too much in first class. Cold boxed lunches were served and they didn't seem overly appealing. Flying first class on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800. Thomas Pallini/Insider With the in-flight service out of the way, I turned to my laptop to help pass the time. The extra legroom offered by the Comfort+ seat made working on the computer far easier than a standard economy seat. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider The rest of the flight continued uneventfully as we made our way across the Southeast and over the Gulf of Mexico. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider A second drink service began around an hour before landing, and it was late enough in the day where I felt comfortable imbibing. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I choose a Miller Lite from Delta's beer selection that also included Heineken, SweetWater 420, and SweetWater IPA. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider The descent into Mexico City was perhaps one of the most enjoyable of my flying career. This was my first time landing in Mexico City and I couldn't believe how expansive and colorful the city was while surrounded by mountains. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Touchdown at Mexico City International Airport marked the end of the flight and it was a great experience. The small touches of Comfort+ made for an enjoyable flight down without costing a penny extra. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider I said goodbye to my Comfort+ seat and headed off of the plane. The total value of my $376.20 ticket was $402. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider Looking back, I should have purchased the upgrade for the bargain price of $138.68. But first class upgrades will truly be worthwhile once Delta restores hot meals to the cabin. Flying Delta Air Lines from New York to Mexico City, Mexico. Thomas Pallini/Insider This was my sixth Delta flight of September and I did manage to score upgrades on two flights between Seattle and Fairbanks, Alaska. But other flights I took elsewhere in the Delta network similarly yielded poor upgrade results. Flying first class on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800. Thomas Pallini/Insider So while flying Delta might not yield a first class upgrade every time, there's still additional value for an elite status holder. Flying first class on a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800. Thomas Pallini/Insider Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Travelers will receive a QR code that they can present to the TSA agent to enter a dedicated expedited security lane. LAX Fast Lane Los Angeles International Airport United Airlines has launched LAX Fast Lane at Los Angeles International Airport. The new pilot program allows passengers to skip the TSA line by reserving a time slot in advance. It's aimed at making the security process quicker and easier ahead of the busy holiday season. United Airlines and Los Angeles World Airports have teamed up to quicken the TSA process for passengers traveling on United flights departing from terminals 7 or 8 at Los Angeles International Airport. United Airlines at LAX Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane The pilot program, known as LAX Fast Lane, allows travelers to book a 15-minute time slot to pass through security. The time windows, which are available between 6:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. during the trial period, are released 24 hours before the flight is scheduled to depart. LAX Fast Lane Los Angeles International Airport Source: LAX Fast Lane There's a dedicated website for booking a time slot, meaning travelers can make a reservation straight from their mobile device. Bookings must be done at least an hour before departure. Screenshot of booking tool online Taylor Rains/Insider Source: LAX Fast Lane, LAX Fast Lane booking website There is no sign-up or account required to use Fast Lane. Passengers simply make a reservation on the website by searching for their flight and entering the number of passengers in their party. Up to 10 travelers can use a single appointment. Passengers going through TSA at LAX Simone Hogan/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane Once booked, travelers will receive a QR code that they can present to the TSA agent to enter a dedicated expedited security lane. However, walk-in appointments are also available at the airport by scanning a QR code posted on LAX Fast Lane signs throughout the terminals. LAX Fast Lane Los Angeles International Airport Source: LAX Fast Lane Fast Lane is located at the east end of the checkpoint at terminal 7, which is where all passengers traveling through either terminal are screened. There is not a separate checkpoint for terminal 8. LAX terminal 7 aerial view Markus Mainka/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane The pilot program is available for free to all customers traveling on United flights through LAX terminals 7 and 8. Those already enrolled in a trusted traveler program like TSA PreCheck or CLEAR who opt to use the Fast Lane will be subject to regular screening requirements, like taking out liquids and laptops. TSA Pre Check David Tran Photo/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane The goal is to streamline the security process and make the airport experience easier and less stressful ahead of the busy holiday season. The trial period started on October 20 and will run for 90 days through January 18, 2022. Travelers at LAX airport Ringo Chiu/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane "Providing a service that allows our guests to know exactly when and how long it will take to get through airport security is a compelling service that holds great potential for busy travelers," said Los Angeles World Airports chief executive officer Justin Erbacci. LAX Fast Lane Los Angeles International Airport Source: LAX Fast Lane "We expect this to be a useful way to save time for customers, especially those traveling this upcoming holiday season, said United managing director of LAX Jonna McGrath. "We're thrilled to be the launch airline to work with LAWA and TSA to bring this option to United customers at LAX." United Airlines at LAX Cassiohabib/Shutterstock Source: LAX Fast Lane Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Around 3,700 American Airlines pilots remain unvaccinated and top airline executives have also said they'll work with unvaccinated employees. Airline workers may remain unvaccinated this holiday travel season despite a mandate from President Joe Biden. COOPER NEILL/AFP/Getty Airlines are walking back plans to vaccinate their staff despite federal mandates requiring them to do so. CEOs at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are indicating they won't fire unvaccinated staff. Around 3,700 American Airlines pilots remain unvaccinated with the holiday travel approaching. The US airline industry is still reeling from President Joe Biden's executive order mandating vaccines for federal contractors, including airlines. And despite recently announced vaccine mandates from some major airlines, travelers should be prepared to fly on airlines without vaccinated staff. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines both announced vaccine mandates for workers in early October, only to backpedal a few weeks later.Southwest initially proposed placing unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave after December 8 but has since scrapped that plan, saying even those unvaccinated and without an approved exemption won't be fired after the deadline passes. "Employees who file for accommodation by the November 24 internal deadline will continue working past the December 8 federal deadline, while following all COVID mask and distancing guidelines, IF they have not received a final decision regarding their accommodation request by that date," a Southwest spokesperson told Insider, adding that the strategy accounts for both a worker's "effort to comply" and the time it takes to review an exemption. American, for its part, is indicating that it will not immediately terminate or ground unvaccinated flight attendants without exemptions, according to the union representing 28,000 American flights attendants in an October 18 update.Both airlines did not say how many workers remain unvaccinated or what will happen to those who remain unvaccinated without an exemption through the deadline.Robert Isom, American's president, only said that the "vast majority" of workers are vaccinated and a "minimal number" are expected to apply for exemptions. The Allied Pilots Association, the labor union representing 14,000 American Airlines pilots, currently estimates 3,700 pilots are unvaccinated, a spokesperson told Insider."Those that are [left unvaccinated] almost certainly will be on some sort of religious or medical exemption, and those that aren't [exempted], we'll continue to work with," Doug Parker, American's chief executive officer, told CNBC. "We don't want to see anybody leaving American."Travelers taking to the skies for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, as a result, should not expect that every airline worker in airports or onboard planes will be fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated airline workers will remain past Biden's December 8 deadline, whether with an exemption or without."There are airline workers who appear to just not want to be vaccinated and it's unclear what their work status will be," Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider. "The majority of airline workers will be vaccinated."Delta Air Lines, which hasn't implemented a full mandate, says 90% of its workers are vaccinated. United has said more than 99% of its staff is vaccinated or has applied for exemptions. The first airline to institute a vaccine mandate, United had proposed to place workers with exemptions on unpaid leave but a pending lawsuit is attempting to overturn that policy. Southwest and American are particularly vulnerable to any lapses in staffing given recent meltdowns in which thousands of flights were canceled in the wake of extreme weather events and other operational disruptions. "Neither [Southwest or American] can afford to lose a critical mass of their pilots or flight attendants," Harteveldt said, describing critical mass to be as little as 10% of a workgroup. Regional carriers have also not yet announced vaccine mandates for staff, even those engaged in federal contracts, partnered with airlines that have announced vaccine mandates, or wholly owned by airlines that are federal contractors."Between Delta, American, and United, none of the regional carriers that any of us use are working towards a vaccine mandate at this point because they've concluded they're not covered by the mandate," Parker said in an October 21 earnings call. Mark Goldstein, a labor and employment attorney and partner at Reed Smith, told Insider that there's a strong case for regional airlines to be considered subcontractors under the executive order. "The guidance issued by the federal government, it's fairly broad," Goldstein said. "One could arguably take the position that it applies to any subcontractors who are performing any services that in any way relate to a federal contract."Regional airlines fly government employees on behalf of their partners and participate in the Essential Air Service program that offers subsidies to fly to underserved US cities. Brett Hart, United's president, said just a day prior to Parker's comments that its regional carriers were still "evaluating the applicability of the executive order."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Iceland startup PLAY has gotten initial approval from the Department of Transportation to operate flights to the US, and it hopes to welcome leisure travelers onboard flights to and from the East Coast next April. PLAY A321 PLAY Icelandic startup PLAY has received initial permission from the DOT to operate nonstop flights to the US. PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson explained investor expectations in the long-term plan have pushed it to enter the US market. The airline plans to target New York, Boston, and Washington DC with a single-class, no-frills product. Iceland startup PLAY has gotten initial approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate flights to the US, and it hopes to welcome leisure travelers onboard flights to and from the East Coast next April.In August, new Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY sent an application to the DOT requesting permission to fly to the US starting next summer, though PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson told Insider it's aiming for spring. The request, which the DOT initially approved on Tuesday, included the freedom to operate regularly scheduled commercial and charter service between Iceland and the US using single cabin Airbus A321 aircraft.Although the application did not specify which routes it intends to fly, Jónsson told Insider it would be targeting daily flights to New York, Boston, and Washington DC, though nothing can be confirmed until the airline has acquired the slots at each airport.PLAY was incorporated shortly after its predecessor, WOW Air, ceased operations in 2019. WOW regularly flew between Iceland and the US using Airbus A330 and A320 series aircraft, and PLAY plans to do the same, though with a different approach."WOW was successful in the market we are moving into, serving the East Coast and working in a 24-hour loop, meaning they got the aircraft out of Iceland in the afternoon and back in the following morning, which utilized the aircraft very well. However, the problem is they expanded too quickly and invested in wide-body jets to fly to the West Coast. Instead, PLAY will focus only on the 24-hour loop to the East Coast, essentially replicating the good things about WOW and avoiding its mistakes," explained Jónsson.PLAY's onboard product to the US is still under discussion, but will likely be zero frills in a single-class configuration, meaning no inflight meals, wifi, or entertainment, and add-ons, like luggage, will be at a charge, says Jónsson."At the moment, we are focusing on the lowest price and a comfortable, clean, and secure way of transport, but it's not an experience," Jónsson told Insider.Jónsson explained customers are looking for the lowest price, so they will win the market by having the lowest fare compared to competitors.PLAY's reasoning for entering the US market now after only two months of service is due to investor expectations and the fact that the airline has gotten good deals on aircraft. According to Jónsson, the airline secured $90 million for its long-term business goal, which involves operating a hub-and-spoke model between the US, Iceland, and beyond. This financial strength has allowed the airline to secure a low price point for aircraft 10 to 12 years in the future, explained Jónsson.Furthermore, PLAY has also secured a unique aircraft payment plan, known as "pay by the hour," meaning the company only pays for aircraft when it uses them, according to Jónsson. PLAY takes advantage of the setup by not flying on Wednesdays, so it pays nothing for its aircraft on that day. This has put the airline in a good financial position, allowing it to focus on long-term goals, like serving the US.PLAY's ambitious move to the US comes soon after its June 24 launch. The airline has been steadily improving its load factor and on-time performance, having filled 52.1% of available seats in September and having 96.2% of flights arrive on time, according to the carrier. Jónsson hopes to continue its success as PLAY moves into the US and expands in Europe.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

It will take Houston’s airports another two or three years before they reach pre-pandemic travel numbers, says Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz. In the meantime, 2021 is the year to “build forward better” with improvements and investments......»»

The five-hour hiccup crippled the carrier's network, displacing flight crews and aircraft and leaving passengers delayed for hours at airports or forced to overnight. A SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft. Heather Dunbar / Shutterstock.com Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights over two days due to a server issue. The five-hour outage left flight crews displaced and passengers facing long delays and cancellations. The disruptions impacted the carrier's mainline partners, forcing them to accommodate thousands of passengers. Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines suffered a system outage late Thursday disrupting over 700 flights and impacting thousands of travelers.United, Delta, and American regional partner SkyWest experienced a server issue that led to mass cancellations Thursday and Friday, according to the airline. The five-hour hiccup crippled the carrier's network, displacing flight crews and aircraft and leaving passengers delayed for hours at airports or forced to overnight.-Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) October 22, 2021 SkyWest was back up and running late Thursday evening, but the damage to its mainline partners was already done.According to USA Today, American Airlines had to cancel or delay about 170 flights on Thursday and 50 on Friday, and that it was working to rebook passengers and provide hotel vouchers for those stranded. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines tweeted that the company is "diligently working on accommodations" but its "options are limited."Delta Air Lines, which is another SkyWest partner, said it is working to get customers to their final destination."Our technical teams engaged with SkyWest IT to resolve the issue and minimize the impact on our customers. We are working with customers directly to accommodate them to their destination as soon as possible and apologize for the inconvenience," Delta told USA Today.As of Friday morning, SkyWest has delayed 4% of its flights and canceled 14%, which totaled about 300 flights, according to data from FlightAware."SkyWest experienced an internal technical issue resulting in approximately 700 flight cancellations before the issue was resolved Thursday evening," a SkyWest spokesperson told Insider. "We apologize to customers for the inconvenience; we are working to minimize the impact on Friday's schedule and to return to normal operations as quickly as possible."SkyWest is the latest airline to have an operational breakdown this month. Over Columbus Day weekend, Southwest Airlines was forced to cancel over 2,000 flights due to a combination of weather, air traffic control issues, and staffing shortages. The airline has since apologized for the disruptions and is offering impacted travelers "LUV vouchers" of up to $250, which is on top of any refunds.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The added flights and frequencies will be a 25% increase compared to summer 2021 and make it the biggest carrier operating out of New York. A Delta Air Lines Airbus A320. Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock.com Delta is restarting 13 routes out of New York this fall, including nine domestic and four international. The added flights will increase capacity by 25% compared to summer 2021 as business and leisure demand increases. The restorations and added frequencies will make Delta the largest carrier out of both JFK and LaGuardia airports. Delta Air Lines announced it is adding over 100 daily flights and 8,000 more seats per day out of New York this fall and restoring 13 routes that were suspended during the pandemic.On Tuesday, Delta announced a significant increase in available daily seats and flights this fall as it continues its post-pandemic recovery. The added flights and frequencies will be a 25% increase compared to summer 2021, with over 400 daily flights, and make it the biggest carrier operating out of New York's JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, according to the carrier. Delta said business and leisure travel demand is up, and the carrier is responding with more options and capacity."We're adding 25% more capacity this fall to meet the significant demand for business and international travel going into next year," said Delta's senior vice president of network planning Joe Esposito. "We continue to provide more choice and convenience while rebuilding our global connectivity and delivering what Delta does best - putting our customers first with exceptional, reliable service and a premium travel experience."Part of the added capacity includes restoring all 40 of the carrier's most popular domestic markets from New York by next month, according to Delta. The airline is also launching a new nonstop route between LaGuardia and Worcester, Massachusetts on November 1.In addition to domestic routes, Delta is also reinstating four high-demand international routes from New York-JFK to Europe, Africa, South America, and Mexico, as well as adding frequencies to Paris, London, and Dublin in Europe, St. Thomas and St. Martin in the Caribbean, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Moreover, travelers can choose from three new routes to Panama City, Panama from Los Angeles, New York, and Orlando beginning in December.Here's a closer look at Delta's 13 restored routes.Between JFK and Lagos, Nigeria Lagos, Nigeria Tayvay/Shutterstock Delta will restore thrice-weekly nonstop service between New York and Lagos on December 7. The outbound redeye will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while the morning return will fly on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Delta will be the only airline to fly this route.Between JFK and Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt, Germany Pigprox/Shutterstock Delta will restore nonstop service between New York and Frankfurt on December 13. The outbound will be a late afternoon flight while the return will operate in the morning. Delta will face competition from Singapore Airlines and German national carrier Lufthansa.Between JFK and São Paulo, Brazil São Paulo, Brazil f11photo/Shutterstock Delta will restore thrice-weekly nonstop service between New York and São Paulo on December 19, though frequency will increase to daily by June 2022. The redeye outbound will operate on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays while the return will run in the morning on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Delta will face competition from American Airlines and Latin American airline LATAM.Between JFK and Los Cabos, Mexico Los Cabos, Mexico Shutterstock.com Delta will restore Saturday-only nonstop service between New York and Los Cabos on December 19, though the route will only run on Sundays through January 2. Passengers will only have one option in each direction, with the outbound leaving in the morning and the return departing in the afternoon. Delta will face competition from American Airlines and JetBlue Airways.Between LaGuardia and Sarasota, Florida Sarasota, Florida Pola Damonte via Getty Images/Getty Images Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Sarasota on November 7. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Republic Airways as Delta Connection. The airline will see competition from Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways.Between LaGuardia and Columbia, South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Jeffrey Collins/AP Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Columbia on November 4. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air as Delta Connection. The airline will be the route's sole operator.Between LaGuardia and Burlington, Vermont Burlington, Vermont Sean Pavone/Shutterstock Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Burlington on November 4. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air as Delta Connection. The airline will be the route's sole operator.Between JFK and Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk, Virginia Roberto Galan/Shutterstock Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Norfolk on November 7. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air as Delta Connection. The airline will compete with American Airlines on the route.Between JFK and Columbus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio pawel.gaul/Getty Images Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Columbus on November 6. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiaries Endeavor Air and Republic Airways as Delta Connection. The airline will face competition from American Airlines.Between JFK and Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland Jose Luis Stephens/Shutterstock Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Baltimore on November 7. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air as Delta Connection. American Airlines will be the carrier's only competitor.Between Newark and Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock Delta will restore daily nonstop service between Newark and Raleigh on November 7. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Endeavor Air as Delta Connection. The carrier will compete with JetBlue Airways and United Airlines on the route.Between JFK and West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida Flavio Vallenari/Getty Images Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and West Palm Beach on December 18. The flight will be operated by Delta mainline. JetBlue Airways will be the only competitor.Between LaGuardia and Key West, Florida Key West, Florida Dennis Kartenkaemper/Shutterstock Delta will restore daily nonstop service between New York and Key West on December 18. The flight will be operated by the company's regional subsidiary Republic Airways as Delta Connection. The carrier will compete with American Airlines on the route.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Putin also called on the US to unfreeze billions of dollars the Afghan central bank holds in reserves, which the Taliban wants access to. Russian President Vladimir Putin greets President Joe Biden during the US-Russia Summit 2021 at the La Grange Villa on June 16, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland.. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Putin on Thursday said Biden made the right call by pulling US troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of US troops coincided with the Taliban regaining control of the country. Putin also called on the US to unfreeze billions of dollars the Afghan central bank holds in reserves. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that President Joe Biden was right to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, Reuters reported.Putin's comments, which were directed at journalists and Russia experts, came during a week in which Russia hosted talks with senior representatives from the Taliban in Moscow. It's unclear why Putin offered this somewhat unexpected approval of one of the most significant foreign policy moves Biden has taken so far. Russia, like the US, has not formally recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. But the Moscow meeting did result in the Taliban winning the backing of Russia and nine other regional powers in calling for a UN donor conference aimed at bolstering Afghanistan's fledgling economy and preventing a humanitarian disaster. The Russian president on Thursday also called for the US to "unfreeze Afghan assets and give Afghanistan a possibility to solve top priority social and economic tasks," per the state-owned TASS news agency.After the Taliban regained control of the country, the US froze billions of dollars the Afghan central bank holds in reserves, which are mostly stored in the US. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Tuesday signaled the US would not budge in this regard, and that the Taliban would not gain access to the reserves."We believe that it's essential that we maintain our sanctions against the Taliban but at the same time find ways for legitimate humanitarian assistance to get to the Afghan people. That's exactly what we're doing," Adeyemo told the Senate Banking Committee."Our goal is to make sure that we are implementing our sanctions regime against the Taliban and the Haqqani network, but at the same time allowing for the permissible flow of humanitarian assistance into the country," Adeyemo said.Though Putin apparently approves of Biden's decision to pull all US troops from Afghanistan, the president has faced fierce, bipartisan criticism in Washington over his handling of the withdraw. The pullout coincided with the Taliban regaining power in Afghanistan for the first time since 2001.In the weeks following the Taliban takeover, the US evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from the country via the Kabul airport under extraordinarily chaotic circumstances. Amid the evacuations, ISIS-K staged an attack that killed 13 US service members and 169 Afghans. The US retaliated with drone strikes, but in one instance mistakenly targeted an aid worker and killed 10 civilians, including seven children, in the process. When the last US troops left Afghanistan in late August, a number of Americans and thousands of Afghan allies were left behind - though some have since been evacuated.The US war in Afghanistan, which lasted 20 years and was the longest conflict in US history, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Afghans - including over 47,000 civilians - and 2,448 US service members, per Brown University's Costs of War project. It's also estimated to have cost roughly $2.3 trillion.Last month, Putin said the US achieved "zero" via the war in Afghanistan and that the conflict resulted in "only tragedies."The relationship between Russia and the US has hit a historic low in recent years, with tensions rising to heights not seen since the Cold War - largely stemming from Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and interference in US elections. Putin and Biden met in Geneva, Switzerland, in June to address the contentious dynamic. The meeting was largely fruitless, but Putin on Thursday said the Geneva summit was productive and a positive step forward for US-Russia relations. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Many flight attendants told Insider they've felt burned out and contemplated quitting due a record number of unruly passenger reports. A Spirit Airlines flight attendant speaks to a passenger. Thomas Pallini/Insider The FAA proposed on Thursday to increase rest time for flight attendants to 10 hours from 9. Congress had mandated the change, but the federal agency missed a November 2018 deadline to enact it. The change comes amid widespread burnout among flight attendants due to record passenger violence. The Federal Aviation Administration wants to give flight attendants an extra hour of rest between shifts. The FAA is proposing 10-hour breaks for flight attendants. These breaks would be mandatory and would provide flight attendants time to rest between shifts which can be as long as 14 hours a day. Airlines currently must give flight attendants at least nine hour of rest, but the number can be reduced to eight under some circumstances. Congress had ordered the increased rest time back in October 2018, but the FAA missed a November 2018 deadline to adopt the change due to delays under the Trump administration, according to Bloomberg.The proposed change comes during a surge of passenger violence onboard aircrafts. The FAA received a record 4,000 reports of passenger violence between January and September 2021. Most reports related to a passenger's refusal to comply with federal mask mandates, and many others involved intoxicated passengers."Flight Attendant fatigue is real," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA union, said in a statement to Insider. "COVID has only exacerbated the safety gap with long duty days, short nights, and combative conditions on planes."Many flight attendants told Insider they've felt burned out and contemplated quitting due unruly passengers. The change may help companies attract or keep staff amid the nationwide labor shortage. Some airlines, including American Airlines, Spirit, and Delta, cancelled flights this summer because of unavailable flight crews. The Dallas Morning News reported Southwest is ramping up hiring at key airports.Airlines for America, a trade group representing most major US carriers, said adding an hour of rest could cost airlines $786 million over 10 years and lost income for flight attendants, according to the FAA.Airlines for America was not immediately available for additional comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Wichita Airport said Alaska was cutting some flights to Seattle, Washington, "due to labor shortages." Alaska said it was a standard seasonal change. Wichita Airport said Alaska Airlines was cutting some services from the Kansas city to Seattle "due to labor shortages." Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Wichita Airport said Alaska Airlines was cutting some flights to Seattle "due to labor shortages." Alaska has denied this, and said the flight reductions were "standard seasonal operation changes." The airline is operating two flights fewer from Wichita to Seattle each week in December. Alaska Airlines is operating fewer flights between Wichita, Kansas, and Seattle, Washington, for November and December.Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport said in an update earlier in October that this was "due to labor shortages," without elaborating - but Alaska denied the change was related to staffing in a statement to Insider."This is part of standard seasonal operation changes and is not a reflection on staffing changes," a spokesperson said.The airline usually runs a flight from Wichita to Seattle every day, but it's cutting its Saturday flight in November and December as well as its Tuesday service in December, Wichita Airport said.Alaska's website shows that direct flights from Wichita to Seattle aren't available on these days.The news was first reported on by Wichita Business Journal.Seattle is the only route Alaska operates from Wichita Airport, and Alaska is the only airline with direct flights between the two cities.In August, just over 2,000 passengers flew from Wichita on Alaska flights.The US is suffering from a labor shortage that's hitting industries ranging from education and healthcare to trucking and restaurants. Record numbers of Americans have been quitting their jobs in search of better wages, benefits, and working conditions.Airlines laid off workers or put them on extended leave when the pandemic brought travel to a halt. Travel has rebounded with the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine and the reopening of travel corridors, and airlines have been scrambling to get enough pilots, flight attendants, and support staff to meet surging demand. American Airlines canceled around 400 flights over a three-day period in June because of staffing shortages and maintenance issues. Spirit Airlines also canceled hundreds of flights in August due to a combination of bad weather, system outages, and staffing issues.Both sets of cancellations were exacerbated by factors beyond just understaffing, and flights were canceled with little notice.This article has been updated to include Alaska's response.Do you work at Alaska Airlines? Got a story to share? Email this reporter at gdean@insider.com. Always use a non-work email.Expanded Coverage Module: what-is-the-labor-shortage-and-how-long-will-it-lastRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Propeller Airports, which operates the commercial terminal at Paine Field in Everett, said it's planning a new terminal and hangar complex for private flights. The announcement follows the Everett company's acquisition on Wednesday of Castle & Cooke's fixed-base operation services at Snohomish County's Paine Field. With the deal, Propeller will form a new subsidiary, Propeller Aero Services, which will manage things like fueling, hangar services, cleaning and catering. “It’s a natural extension….....»»