air travel

What a government shutdown could mean for your holiday travel plans

1:59pm December 20, 2024

Millions of Americans are planning to travel in the coming days. Here's what a potential government shutdown could mean for flying, driving and more — and what you can do to prepare.

Arts

What makes a good airplane movie? Less sex, more clear dialogue

7:00am November 23, 2024

Not all movies work at cruising altitude. If you're traveling for the holidays, here's what NPR's pop culture critics suggest to make the time fly by.

Soda cans are exploding on Southwest flights due to sky-high temperatures

3:15pm July 19, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

The extreme heat searing the U.S. this summer is having an unexpected consequence thousands of feet in the air: It's causing some beverage cans on Southwest Airlines flights to burst when opened.

Business

Boom Supersonic cuts ribbon on manufacturing plant in Greensboro

4:51pm June 17, 2024

by Paul Garber

Ultimately, Boom plans to have a workforce of about 2,400 people and the ability to churn out 33 planes a year.

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National

Bette Nash, the world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88

12:19pm May 28, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

Nash began her career in 1957 when flight attendants handed out cigarettes and got weighed before shifts. She earned her Guinness World Record after 64 years of service in 2022 — then kept working.

National

Air travel has gone to the dogs — literally. Here’s what to know about BARK Air

8:10am May 26, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

BARK Air says it built its experience "dog first," offering perks like puppucchinos and pheromone blankets. It's flying between New York and LA or London and plans to add more routes soon.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Maryland on Sunday.

Another Super Bowl bet emerges: Can Taylor Swift make it from her Tokyo show in time?

12:50pm January 30, 2024

by Rachel Treisman

The Kansas City Chiefs — including Travis Kelce — will play in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. Swift has a show in Tokyo the night before. Can she get there in time? The math says yes.

Pole banners at the Piedmont Triad International Airport

Why passenger travel is up, but cargo numbers are down at PTI

12:58pm September 07, 2023

by April Laissle

Statistics compiled by PTI show passenger travel is up by 12% year over year, and the number of departing seats has increased by more than double that. Cargo is the outlier in the report — it's down by about 30%.

People travel through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Thursday.

National

Roads and airports will be crowded this weekend. Here's how to prepare

11:50am September 01, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

The FAA says this could be the third-busiest travel weekend of the year so far, while AAA warns we could see more traffic on the roads than in years. Here's what to know if you're flying or driving.

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Health & Safety

Turbulence aboard Allegiant flight injures 2 passengers, 2 flight attendants

3:50pm July 13, 2023

by Associated Press

Two passengers and two flight attendants were injured when a plane plunged nearly a mile during severe turbulence Wednesday while flying from North Carolina to Florida, officials