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FAA warns US air traffic will fall as shutdown drags on
Over 1,500 flights were cancelled in the United States, and thousands more were delayed on Saturday as airports were ordered to reduce air traffic amid the government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to cut daily flights by 4% starting Friday at 40 major airports due to air traffic control safety concerns. The shutdown has now lasted 40 days, making it the longest in history, and the Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, said the number of cancelled flights will only increase the longer the shutdown continues. “It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” a Sunday news talk show. “The two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.” Reductions in flights will reach 6% on Tuesday and 10% by 14 November. The shutdown has led to a shortage in air traffic controllers, who, alongside other federal employees, have not been paid for weeks. Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay during the shutdown. According to the FAA, there were air traffic shortages impacting 42 airport towers and other centres and delaying flights in at least 12 major U.S. c
United States
United CEO warns shutdown may hit travel demand
As the United States shutdown reaches two weeks, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warns that it could hurt airline bookings if it continues. Despite the shutdown, essential employees like Transportation Security Administration officers and air traffic controllers are required to work without pay. Recently, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers have received partial paychecks but will not get paid later this month if the standoff continues. While Kirby said the shutdown has yet to impact the carrier’s business, he said if it goes on, it could impact bookings. “I think that at least for the first couple of weeks, people thought it was going to get resolved, so they just kind of continued business as usual,” he said. “But as time goes on, as people read headlines and say, ‘it’s not going to get resolved soon.’ “People start to lose confidence in the government and the government’s ability to resolve this.” Last week, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian made a similar warning about how a prolonged shutdown could impact air travel, but made it clear that the airline’s operation hadn’t been affected yet. This comes after an increased number of flights were de
United States
Explainer: Is US travel demand stabilising?
United States travel demand went through a major slump in the early months of 2025. International arrival numbers collapsed by 11.6% in March amid the U.S. government’s tariff policies and isolationist rhetoric, and businesses like Marriott and American Airlines pulled or lowered their guidance at the end of that quarter. Inbound arrivals continue to drop. However, carriers like Delta Air Lines have now reinstated their full-year forecasts, arguing that demand has stabilised. Consumers remain divided on their near-term travel prospects, according to an August poll from YouGov and The Points Guy. Around 39% of surveyed Americans said they planned to spend less on travel in 2026, while 43% said they would spend the same amount, and 18% said they would spend more. So how stable is U.S. travel demand? It depends on travellers’ purpose in the country, spending levels, and the nation of origin. Where is travel demand stabilising?Travel demand has continued to rise in the business sector. Business travel bookings increased by 15% in the 12 months to July, according to a report by Navan. “In the face of macroeconomic uncertainty, companies continue to prioritise face-to-face connections, driving 15% year-over-year growth in bu
United States
United States reviews 55 million visas for violations
The Trump administration is cracking down on travellers by reviewing over 55 million people who have had valid United States visas for any violations that could lead to deportation. The news was first reported by the Associated Press, who were told by the state department that all foreigners holding a U.S. visa are subject to “continuous vetting” for any indication they could be ineligible for the document. “The State Department revokes visas any time there are indications of a potential ineligibility, which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organisation,” a department spokesperson said. This follows announcements earlier in the week that the Trump administration would be looking for any “anti-American” views on social media when assessing applications of people who want to live in the U.S. The administration has been imposing more restrictions and requirements for visa holders, including requiring them to submit to in-person interviews. The reviews will include new tools for data collection on past, present and future visas with a complete scouring of social media sites. Si
United States
Amtrak's new high-speed Acela trains launch in August
Amtrak’s new high-speed trains from Washington, DC to Boston will launch on 28 August, part of Amtrak's effort to upgrade its train system. Five of its NextGen Acela trains will begin service on the Northeast Corridor route this month, with a further 23 trains rolling out through 2027. The route will also pass through cities like Philadelphia, New York City, and Baltimore. “NextGen Acela is more than a new train — it’s an evolution of travel,” said Amtrak president Roger Harris. “In just a few weeks, history will be made with the debut of NextGen Acela as we launch a new standard for American train travel.” The NextGen Acela trains include 27% more seats than the current models, as well as amenities like free 5G Wi-Fi and individual power outlets. They will host onboard cafes with grab-and-go self-service. These trains have a top speed of 160 miles per hour (257.5 km/h), and are able to tilt for smoother travel. While Amtrak has not announced an expected travel time for its NextGen Acela trains, the journey lasts around six hours and 40 minutes with current models. The route will have expanded schedules on both weekdays and weekends. Amtrak will also roll out its new Airo trains on routes through the Pacific N

United States
US to require some tourists to pay US$15k bond for visa
The United States could require travellers from some countries to post bonds of up to US$15,000 to receive a visa, under a new pilot program. Visitors applying for U.S. tourism or business visas from countries with high overstay rates would need to pay a refundable bond, according to a draft of the new rule. The 12-month pilot program is set to begin later this month. “The Pilot Program will enable the [State] Department to assess the operational feasibility of posting, processing, and discharging visa bonds, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security, and to inform any future decision concerning the possible use of visa bonds to ensure nonimmigrants using these visa categories comply with the terms and conditions of their visas and timely depart the United States,” the draft rule says. “Visa bonds may be required from certain applicants for B-1/B-2 visas who are nationals of countries identified by the Department of State as having high visa overstay rates, where screening and vetting information is deemed deficient or, Citizenship by Investment, if the alien obtained citizenship with no residency requirement.” The State Department has yet to announce which countries wo
United States
Many US visitors must pay $250 visa fee under new law
Many travellers to the United States must pay a visa fee of at least US$250 under a new law, as international visitor numbers struggle to recover from a slump this year. Visitors entering on tourism, business, student, or work visas are required to pay a ‘visa integrity fee’, under the U.S.’ new tax and spending policies. Travellers eligible for a visa waiver are exempt, including citizens of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union who do not need a student or work visa. The visa fee provision is part of the U.S. spending bill passed this month, formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “In addition to any other fee authorised by law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall require the payment of a fee, equal to the amount specified in this subsection, by any alien issued a nonimmigrant visa at the time of such issuance,” the legislation says. This fee will be a minimum of US$250 until the U.S. fiscal year ends on 30 September, with the Department of Homeland Security being able to set a higher amount. The U.S. government has yet to confirm when this fee will enter into effect, or how visitors can pay. Its implementation will first be coordinated between government agencies, a Department of Homel
United States
New ad welcomes Americans back to Canada with a hug
A new Quebec tourism ad has Americans emotional as it welcomes them to the city. The ad comes at a time when political turmoil has affected the once-booming tourism industry between the two countries amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and immigration laws. Since Trump entered office earlier this year, Canadian visitation to the U.S. in May fell by 38% by car and 24% by air year-on-year. This contributes to the estimated US$25 billion to US$29 billion the U.S. is set to lose this year in tourism. On the flip side, the number of U.S. residents entering Canada in April also dropped by 5.5% by car and a 10.7% decline by air. In May 32% of businesses surveyed by the Tourism Industry Association of Onatrio reported lower bookings by Americans compared to the same time last year. With the majority of Canada’s tourists coming from the U.S. and U.S. tourists spending US$15.3 billion in the country last year, it's easy to see why Canada is eager to lure them back. The new ad has caused a surge in website traffic from the U.S. to Quebec tourism pages, according to the Tourism Marketing Association of Canada. The ‘Come hug it out in Eastern Townships’ ad has been received warmly by many Americans who did not expec
United States
Storm hits Atlanta airport, disrupting 4 July travel
Nearly 1,000 flights have been cancelled at the world’s busiest airport in recent days, as heavy storms hit Atlanta ahead of the Fourth of July travel surge. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport saw 402 cancellations on Friday and 515 on Saturday, and has posted 72 cancellations on Sunday as of 9:30 pm local time. More than 1,000 flights were delayed at the airport on Saturday alone. A majority of cancellations were from Delta Air Lines, which uses Hartsfield-Jackson as its primary hub. “Severe weather in Atlanta on the evening of [27 June] brought intense thunderstorms, hail, windshear and reports of microburst winds — causing significant disruption to Delta’s largest hub where around 900 of our flights flow each day,” according to Delta Chief Customer Experience Officer Erik Snell. “The storm caused hundreds of cancellations, diversions and delays across our entire system as well as an evacuation and temporary power loss at the ATL [Atlanta] air traffic control tower.” Delta’s operations in Atlanta stabilised on Sunday, with cancellation numbers dropping below 60, the airline wrote. “No further disruption from Friday’s severe weather is expected.” A record 72.2 million Americans will travel domestica