The last major travel weekend of the summer is set to be a busy one for US airlines, which are facing pressure from federal regulators to smooth operations following a summer of disruptions. Delta anticipates carrying about 2.9m air travellers in the 1-6 September period, which includes the weekend ahead of the Labor Day holiday on 5 September, the airline tells FlightGlobal. That figure is a significant increase from the 2.5m passengers Delta carried during the same period last year but still down from 3.1m passengers in pre-pandemic 2019, Delta says. The weekend is off to a less-than-ideal start, with 17.7% of US airlines’ flights delayed and 1% cancelled on 1 September, according to FlightAware.com’s database. American Airlines has cancelled the most flights today, with Southwest Airlines having the most delays, data shows. United Airlines says it expects roughly the same volume of passengers this Labor Day period as in 2019 – some 2.6m passengers, which is 20% more than last year’s 2.1m. The weekend is expected to be the fourth-busiest for air travel so far this year, behind the weekends aligned with Juneteenth, Presidents Day and Memorial Day, according to the FAA. The surge in air travellers packed airports across the country on 1-2 September – the busiest days for departures for American, which anticipates operating more than 5,600 flights each day, the carrier says. American expects to carry about 2.5m passengers between 1-5 September, it adds. On 2 September, the FAA warned delays were possible at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport, Dallas Fort Worth International airport, Miami International airport and other major hubs across the USA. Southwest, which declined to specify how many passengers it will transport this weekend, advised customers to arrive early and allow extra time for checking baggage and clearing security. <br/>
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On Thursday, the Department of Transportation unveiled its most concrete endeavor yet to fix air travel: an online dashboard featuring 10 U.S. airlines with green check marks next to the services they offer when flights are delayed or canceled for reasons within their control. The website, which is reminiscent of the sort of brand comparison charts offered up by Consumer Reports magazine, reveals, for example, that JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines will, in some circumstances, rebook passengers on another airline when a flight is canceled, but that Southwest and Alaska will not. White House and Department of Transportation officials said that the mere idea of an interactive dashboard compelled airlines to make major changes in just two weeks. Ahead of its launch, Pete Buttigieg, the US transportation secretary, sent a letter urging airlines to commit to a number of measures, such as hotel vouchers. He also told them that, along with the proposal he made last month to update federal guidelines on refunds, which he will revisit in November, he was “contemplating” making new rules. “Today, the Department of Transportation officially launched the dashboard, and we’re proud to report that airlines vastly improved their plans,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, on Thursday. Given the other sorts of proposals that have been floating around — fining airlines $55,000 per passenger for cancellations caused by staffing; taking the European approach and requiring airlines to pay travelers hundreds of dollars for some canceled flights; and reassigning airline enforcement to state attorneys general — a chart might seem like a small step. According to the White House, the Department of Transportation and some consumer advocates, a lot has changed. A few weeks ago, none of the major airlines guaranteed that they would cover meals or hotels when they were responsible for cancellations or significant delays, Ms. Jean-Pierre said. Now eight cover hotels and nine cover meals. In a background briefing on Wednesday, senior administration officials said no airline had offered complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for passengers stuck overnight. Story has more details.<br/>
A pilot who threatened to crash into a Walmart in Tupelo, Miss., on Saturday morning, and then flew erratically for several hours, was taken into custody after landing in a field, officials said. The plane landed in Benton County, about 50 miles northwest of Tupelo, and the pilot was taken into custody without injury, said Connie Strickland, a dispatcher for the Benton County Sheriff’s Department in Mississippi. At a news conference, John Quaka, the chief of the Tupelo Police Department, identified the pilot as Cory Patterson, who was charged with grand larceny and making terroristic threats. The chief said he expected federal charges to follow. Patterson had some flight experience, but the authorities said they did not believe he was a licensed pilot. Aviation records show that since 2013, Patterson was considered a “student pilot” and prohibited from carrying passengers. The authorities laid out a timeline of events, which began just after 5 a.m. when they said Mr. Patterson took a Beechcraft King Air C90 from Tupelo Regional Airport. He was the only person in the plane. Airport representatives could not be immediately reached on Saturday. Patterson worked at Tupelo Aviation Unlimited for 10 years as a lineman fueling aircrafts, so he had access to the airport and planes, Chief Quaka said. Patterson called 911 just before 5:30 a.m. and threatened to intentionally crash into a Walmart in Tupelo, which prompted the authorities to evacuate the store and surrounding areas as he flew above and around the city. The police talked directly with the pilot and negotiators convinced him not to crash. The authorities said Patterson did not have enough flight experience to know how to land, and another pilot was brought in to talk Patterson through the process. As Patterson approached the Tupelo Airport and was about 100 feet from landing, he suddenly changed directions and started to head north away from the city. Story has more. <br/>
The Biden administration is expected to announce a rule this year that would detail annual biofuel blending mandates for the refining industry for a three-year period instead of just for one, three sources familiar with the discussions said. The switch to a multi-year target would be aimed at providing longer-term certainty to the refining and biofuels industries, which have battled nearly constantly over the annual mandates since they began more than a decade ago under the US Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). "They're trying to put together a proposal for 2023, 2024 and 2025 where once they put the proposals together, then they don't have to go back in and they don't have to change and modify the volumes," said one of the sources, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the discussions. The EPA has been ordered to propose a rulemaking for 2023 mandates by Nov. 16, according to a legal document in July. The Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the RFS, declined to comment for this article. Under the RFS, oil refiners must blend billions of gallons of biofuels into the nation's fuel mix, or buy tradable credits known as RINs from those that do. The policy aims to reduce energy imports, help farmers, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. While Congress set out specific goals through 2022, the law expands the EPA's authority to change the way the RFS is administered. Starting next year, the agency will have leeway to set multi-year mandates and make other changes. Previously, sources told Reuters the EPA is studying ways to use the RFS to support electric vehicles, sustainable aviation fuel and hydrogen. The EPA has not shared its plans.<br/>
The aromas of airplane food are once again wafting through cabins at 35,000 feet. From vegan meatballs to ice cream sundaes, airlines are offering new options and old favorites to woo returning travelers. As the peak travel season fades and inflation weighs on household and company budgets, it’s even more important than usual for airlines to court passengers. Airplane food, a favorite travel punchline for comedians, is hardly the top reason why travelers choose a carrier — price and schedule are much stronger factors. But it can be a creature comfort on board and can go a long way toward winning over passengers, especially those who are willing to pay up for premium seats, analysts say. “Food is one of the most tangible signals of what an airline thinks of its customers,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group and a former airline executive. The start of the Covid-19 pandemic halted almost all food and beverage service on flights as travel collapsed and airlines limited crews’ contact with passengers to avoid spreading the virus. The pandemic drove airlines to record losses and had them looking to cut costs wherever possible, such as in-flight food. With travel returning, airlines around the world are rolling out new menu options. Alcohol sales, with some new ready-to-drink options, are back on board in U.S. coach cabins. And face masks are now mostly optional, removing an obstacle to onboard food and beverage service. As tastes change and airlines face supply chain challenges, the meal on your seat-back tray table is making a comeback — with some adjustments.<br/>
Israel will ban Boeing 747 and similar aircraft with four engines as of March 31, 2023 to reduce noise and air pollution, its airports authority said on Sunday. As part of a broader plan under development to improve the surrounding environment, the authority said that it had already told airlines they would not be able to land large airplanes at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv as of the 2023 summer season. The directive is mainly for cargo aircraft since most, it not all, carriers have stopped using 747 and other four-engine planes on routes to Israel. El Al has already retired its fleet of 747s and uses twin-engine Boeing 777 and 787 planes on long-haul routes. Competitors also use those Boeing planes or comparable Airbus ones to Ben Gurion, although the 747s are still used by some for cargo.<br/>
Super Typhoon Hinnamnor is approaching Japan’s southerly Okinawan islands, with strong winds prompting local authorities to order evacuations and airlines to cancel flights. Okinawa’s Miyakojima and Ishigaki cities instructed residents on Saturday to evacuate to shelters before winds intensified if concerned for their homes, according to separate notices by local authorities. Japan Airlines said Saturday it canceled 56 flights, affecting about 3,230 passengers, while ANA Holdings canceled 44 flights on Saturday and 22 for Sunday. The storm has maximum sustained winds of about 148 km per hour, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Those speeds are expected to accelerate over the weekend, intensifying the danger from the winds. Taiwan earlier Saturday issued a land warning. South Korea expects the typhoon to pound the resort island of Jeju on Monday or Tuesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration has warned it could be one of the most destructive typhoons ever to hit that nation. <br/>
South Korea issued warnings on bad weather and raised its typhoon alert level to its highest as typhoon Hinnamnor neared on Monday, with heavy rain and strong wind already lashing southern parts of the country. Responding to the progress of the typhoon, companies in the country said they have either curtailed operations or are contemplating doing so. Travelling northward at a speed of 19 km per hour, Hinnamnor is expected to make landfall 90 km southwest of the port city of Busan early on Tuesday, after reaching waters off Jeju Island around Monday midnight. "Very strong winds and heavy rains are expected across the country through to Tuesday due to the typhoon, while there will be places where very high waves cross breakwaters and coastal roads along with storm and tsunami," the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. While typhoons are classified into four categories – medium, strong, very strong, super strong – Hinnamnor is expected to reach the country as a "very strong" typhoon, according to the KMA. Typhoons under that classification have wind speeds of up to 53 metres per second. Warnings have been issued across the southern cities, including Gwangju, Busan, Daegu and Ulsan, following that in the southern island of Jeju, while the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Sunday upgraded its typhoon alert level to the highest among its four-tier system, the first time in five years. Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines have cancelled most of their Monday flights to Jeju Island, according to their websites, while budget airlines such as Air Seoul and Jin Air have cancelled some of their flights.<br/>
Philippines' Megawide Construction Corp and its Indian partner are selling their shares in an airport developer and operator, in a deal worth 25b pesos ($439.8m), Megawide said in a disclosure on Friday. Megawide and partner GMR Airports International will sell their interests in Mactan Cebu International Airport in central Philippines to the infrastructure arm of conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures, by issuing shares and exchangeable notes.<br/>