Accessibility links
air travel air travel
Stories About

air travel

Monday

Wednesday

The Year In Air Travel: Packed Planes And More Perks — For A Price

Fuel prices have plummeted this year, but airfares have remained high. The International Air Transport Association estimates that the world's airlines will rake in nearly $20 billion in profits this year. Brennan Linsley/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Brennan Linsley/AP

National

The Year In Air Travel: Packed Planes And More Perks — For A Price

Commercial airlines earned nearly $20 billion in profits this year. They're using the cash to buy new planes, update facilities and add amenities — but not all of those new comforts will be free.

The Year In Air Travel: Packed Planes And More Perks — For A Price

Listen · 3:36
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/372512914/372837201" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Thursday

Jet Fuel Is Down, But Not Enough For A Thanksgiving Fare War

A plane takes off over a departure board at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta last November. Airlines say they expect an uptick in Thanksgiving travel this year. David Goldman/AP hide caption

toggle caption
David Goldman/AP

The Two-Way

Jet Fuel Is Down, But Not Enough For A Thanksgiving Fare War

Airlines say they expect an uptick in Thanksgiving travel. This November, jet fuel prices are down, but carriers are using the saved money to upgrade equipment and software rather than cut fares.

Thursday

A Few Ebola Cases Likely In U.S., Air Traffic Analysis Predicts

Air traffic connections from West Africa to the rest of the world: While Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone don't have many flights outside the region, Nigeria is well-connected to Europe and the U.S. PLOS Currents: Outbreaks hide caption

toggle caption
PLOS Currents: Outbreaks

Goats and Soda

A Few Ebola Cases Likely In U.S., Air Traffic Analysis Predicts

What are the chances somebody with Ebola will fly to the U.S. by late September? One team of scientists says it could be as high as 18 percent. And the risk is even higher for the U.K.

Thursday

Flight Delays In China Leave Travelers Feeling Squeezed

Passengers packed the waiting hall Tuesday at Hongqiao Railway Station, which services a terminal at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Flight Delays In China Leave Travelers Feeling Squeezed

Air traffic snarls at some of eastern China's busiest airports have stranded thousands of travelers and highlighted the increasing competition for airspace between military and civilian flights.

Thursday

Wednesday

Weekly Innovation: Better Luggage Checking ... And Tracking

Coming in December: the eTrack and the eTag, from Air France and KLM. The innovations let you drop off your bags without checking them, and track them throughout your journey. Courtesy of FastTrack Co. hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of FastTrack Co.

All Tech Considered

Weekly Innovation: Better Luggage Checking ... And Tracking

Air France and KLM have developed two gadgets — the eTrack and the eTag — that let you drop off your bag without checking it with an agent and track it during your trip.

Monday

Where's The Best Airport In The World To Be Stranded?

The Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3 is just one of the pleasant diversions at the Changi airport in Singapore. Wong Maye-E/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Wong Maye-E/AP

Parallels

Where's The Best Airport In The World To Be Stranded?

GlobalPost

Well, that depends on what you're looking for. Butterflies? Singapore's Changi can't be beat. Biergarten? Try Munich's airport. Wings? Buffalo, naturally. Chocolate? Brussels is your best bet. Here's a totally unscientific list of the best places to be stuck while you're awaiting your flight.

Wednesday

Delta CEO Pushes For National Airline Policy That Lets 'Free Market Work'

A traveler walks by a Delta Airlines skycap kiosk at San Francisco International Airport. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Delta CEO Pushes For National Airline Policy That Lets 'Free Market Work'

That's not to say airlines want more regulation, CEO Richard Anderson said. But they do want a policy that does such things as improve and modernize the air traffic control system.

Delta CEO Pushes For National Airline Policy That Lets 'Free Market Work'

Listen · 6:21
Transcript
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/154435639/154456793" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Friday

Americans Say Security Checks Are A Bigger Health Concern Than Flights

A Transportation Security Administration volunteer demonstrates a full-body scanner at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport in March 2010. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

Americans Say Security Checks Are A Bigger Health Concern Than Flights

More than 1 in 5 respondents said they would refuse to be examined in one of the whole-body scanners now in many airports. A third of people under 35 said they would decline the scans.

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Thursday