Holding on to popular or trending stocks for the long-term can make your portfolio a winner. How much a stock's price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.What if you'd invested in Expeditors International (EXPD) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to EXPD for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?Expeditors International's Business In-DepthWith that in mind, let's take a look at Expeditors International's main business drivers. Expeditors International of Washington Inc. is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider. The company, based in Seattle, WA, is engaged in the business of global logistics management, including international freight forwarding and consolidation, for both air and ocean freight.As of Dec 31, 2021, Expeditors operated 176 district offices across the globe. Out of them, 70 were in Americas, 21 in North Asia, 16 in South Asia, 45 in Europe and 24 in areas covering Middle East, Africa and India.The company also has branch offices, aligned with and dependent on a district office. Furthermore, the company has contracts with independent agents for providing services.Expeditors, whose fiscal year coincides with the calendar year, has the following three reporting segments:Airfreight Services (accounted for 41% of 2021 revenues) – Expeditors typically acts either as a freight consolidator, or as an agent for the airline carrying the shipment.The company procures shipments from its customers, determines the routing, consolidates shipments bound for a particular airport distribution point, and selects the airline for transportation to the distribution point.Expeditors also acts as a as a freight forwarder, whereby it receives and forwards individual, unconsolidated shipments and arranges the transportation with the concerned airline.Ocean Freight and Ocean Services (34%) – Expeditors operates Expeditors International Ocean (EIO), an Ocean Transportation Intermediary, sometimes referred to as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier specializing in ocean freight consolidation from Asia to the United States.The company’s revenues as an ocean freight forwarder are also derived from commissions paid by the carrier and revenues from fees charged to customers for ancillary services, which the company may provide. The company does not own vessels, nor does it physically handle the cargo.Customs Brokerage and Other Services (25%) – As a customs broker, the company assists importers to clear shipments through customs by preparing the necessary documents, calculating and providing for payment of duties and other taxes on behalf of the importer.Bottom LineAnyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of a few things: research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in Expeditors International a decade ago, you're probably feeling pretty good about your investment today.According to our calculations, a $1000 investment made in December 2012 would be worth $3,087.12, or a gain of 208.71%, as of December 5, 2022, and this return excludes dividends but includes price increases.In comparison, the S&P 500 gained 187.51% and the price of gold went up 1.91% over the same time frame.Analysts are anticipating more upside for EXPD. Expeditors is being hurt by declining volumes (with respect to air-freight tonnage and ocean container) due to wakening demand and falling rates. Volume- weakness is likely to persist in the near-term. Our current-quarter estimate with respect to air-freight tonnage volumes indicates a 9% year over year decline. High operating expenses represent another concern. However, we are impressed with EXPD's efforts to reward its shareholders through dividends and buybacks.  EXPD  has returned in excess of $1 billion to its shareholders through buybacks in the first nine months of 2022. We are optimistic about the company’s buyout of Fleet Logistics’ Digital Platform. The acquisition has boosted Expeditors’ online LTL shipping platform, Koho. Shares have gained 21.78% over the past four weeks and there have been 4 higher earnings estimate revisions for fiscal 2022 compared to none lower. The consensus estimate has moved up as well. Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time. This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (EXPD): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research.....»»

The TSA has used various biometric technologies since the 9/11 terror attacks but its facial identification system is still a pilot program. A TSA agent at LAX.Brady MacDonald/Insider The TSA may expand its facial recognition identification system nationwide next year, WaPo reported. Facial recognition is currently used in 16 domestic airports for identifying passengers. The TSA has used various biometric technologies since the 9/11 terror attacks. The TSA may expand the pilot program of its facial recognition identification system — currently being used in 16 domestic airports across the United States — to include airports nationwide as early as next year.The Washington Post reported the TSA's use of the controversial technology, which relies on "live photos" cross-referenced to your driver's license photo, was originally rolled out at DC's Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport due to coronavirus concerns and has since grown to include major airports such as Los Angeles International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Dallas-Forth Worth Airport. The tech is currently opt-in, with passengers stepping up to a kiosk, inserting their ID, and having their faces scanned. Currently, passengers can choose a standard TSA screening process instead. "What we often see with these biometric programs is they are only optional in the introductory phases — and over time we see them becoming standardized and nationalized and eventually compulsory," Albert Fox Cahn, the founder of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, or STOP, told The Post. "There is no place more coercive to ask people for their consent than an airport."In addition to the TSA, facial recognition technology is currently utilized by other agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which uses the tech to track migrants. Law enforcement agencies have also adopted the tech, though its use has been heavily criticized due to widespread reports of racial bias.Its use by law enforcement is even illegal in some cities, including San Francisco as, in some cases, racially-biased facial recognition scans have led to false arrests and even jail time for a Black man who was misidentified.TSA's Jason Lim, who helps run the program, called Credential Authentication Technology with Camera (CAT-2), told The Washington Post passengers should not worry about being misidentified — but critics aren't eager to take his word for it."I am worried that the TSA will give a green light to technology that is more likely to falsely accuse Black and Brown and nonbinary travelers and other groups that have historically faced more facial recognition errors," Cahn told The Post, adding that he doesn't "trust the TSA to evaluate the efficacy of its own facial recognition systems."Representatives for the TSA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Fifty years after the crash of United Flight 553 outside Midway much has changed at the airport and in commercial aviation.Fifty years after the crash of United Flight 553 outside Midway much has changed at the airport and in commercial aviation......»»

Fifty years after the crash of United Flight 553 outside Midway much has changed at the airport and in commercial aviation.Fifty years after the crash of United Flight 553 outside Midway much has changed at the airport and in commercial aviation......»»

Alaska Airlines says it has become the first U.S. airline to launch an electronic bag tag program, shaving the time travelers spend checking in at airports......»»

On Saturdays we catch up with the non-finance related items that we didn’t get to earlier in the week. You can check... EVsThe Chevy Bolt EUV is a bargain electric vehicle. (arstechnica.com)Toyota's Prius used to be synonymous with hybrids. (ritholtz.com)Nissan once lead EV sales with the Leaf. Now it it is looking for a path forward. (axios.com)The U.S. charging network is a mess. (wsj.com)AutosRoundabouts are taking over America. (washingtonpost.com)American exceptionalism when it comes to road deaths is notable. (nytimes.com)What it's like to get hit by an SUV. (theguardian.com)EnvironmentHigh air pollution is bad for human health. Period. (sciencedaily.com)Hospitals are uniquely at-risk to hurricanes. (politico.com)Tips on how to save energy on clothes washing. (washingtonpost.com)AnimalsHow birds and small mammals affect how forests grow. (newatlas.com)Lobster and snow crab fisheries are looking for bait alternatives. (hakaimagazine.com)Beluga whales are disappearing off the coast of Alaska. (undark.org)Why the Galapagos Islands retain their unique character. (hakaimagazine.com)How shrews shrink (and regrow) their brains. (washingtonpost.com)TravelSmall, regional airports continue to lose scheduled commercial flights. (nytimes.com)Can cruise ships ever really be green? (nytimes.com)TechnologyAmazon's ($AMZN) Alexa is having a 'midlife crisis.' (jacobsmedia.com)The Apple TV is not built for live sports. (macworld.com)PhysiciansAmerica's doctors are getting older. (nytimes.com)Why you can't trust online physician (and hospital) ratings. (marginalrevolution.com)Respiratory virusesThere's no such thing as a good respiratory virus. (vox.com)There's no such thing as 'immunity debt' at the individual level. (newscientist.com)How a new mRNA vaccine could be effective against various influenza strains. (newatlas.com)OzempicAdd Ozempic to the list of drugs Hollywood types are abusing. (vanityfair.com)Ozempic is in short supply, so how are people still getting it? (wsj.com)HealthThe FDA approved the first therapy using bacteria from stool samples to treat a bowel disorder. (statnews.com)Post-Dobbs, vasectomies are on the rise in the U.S. (politico.com)We still don't know what causes canker sores. (msn.com)There are now no effective monoclonal antibody Covid treatments. (statnews.com)Mpox is no longer in the headlines but hasn't gone away. (msn.com)FitnessAll movement is good movement. (wsj.com)How path dependence works when it comes to exercise. (outsideonline.com)What we can learn about exercise from astronauts. (washingtonpost.com)Caffeine is a performance enhancer, at least for sprinters. (newatlas.com)DogsWhat researchers can learn about cancer from trials in dogs. (cbsnews.com)Five insights from Alexandra Horowitz's new book, "The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves." (nextbigideaclub.com)A shortage of veterinarians and vet techs is still pretty bad. (wsj.com)How dogs evolved to live with humans. (cbsnews.com)FoodThe fertilizer shortage will persist into 2023. (modernfarmer.com)Why Whole Foods, and others, are taking Maine lobster off the menu. (fortune.com)Nestle is going to market with a plant-based chocolate chip. (axios.com)The pretzel category is hot. (fooddive.com)Olive oil brands are getting hip. (eater.com)Caffeine-Free Diet CokeThe case against Caffeine-Free Diet Coke. (gawker.com)Caffeine-Free Diet Coke is not 'hardcore.' (slate.com)DrinkHow people talk about beer these days. (punchdrink.com)Online wine club Winc Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. (news.crunchbase.com)SportsFootball analytics is going through its own growing pains. (oversharing.substack.com)A look at the revolving door between TV and coaching. (frontofficesports.com)How sports betting companies defend their marketing deals with universities. (wsj.com)Can fly fishing be a competitive sport? (hatchmag.com)VideoThe 25 best movies of 2022 including 'Tár.' (vox.com)The best TV shows of 2022 including 'The Good Fight.' (newyorker.com)CollegeIs the college ranking reckoning finally here? (slate.com)Even college presidents lose their minds when their kids apply to college. (wsj.com)The GRE has rapidly fallen out of favor. (science.org)Earlier on Abnormal ReturnsPodcast links: telling stories with data. (abnormalreturns.com)What you missed in our Thursday linkfest. (abnormalreturns.com)Are you a financial adviser looking for some out-of-the-box thinking? Then check out our weekly e-mail newsletter. (newsletter.abnormalreturns.com)Mixed mediaHow in-person conferences are adapting to the work-from-home era. (vox.com)Unexpected phone calls are now a source of fear, for many. (washingtonpost.com)Instagram is losing its relevance to Gen Z. (msn.com).....»»

Prosecutors say that Thevamanogari Manivel and Jatinder Singh went on a spending spree after receiving the accidental windfall from the crypto site. Crypto.com sent a couple $10.5 million by accident last year, and took seven months to realize its mistake.Jakub Porzycki/Getty Images A couple is facing trial for theft after allegedly spending millions of dollars sent by Crypto.com. Prosecutors say Thevamanogari Manivel and Jatinder Singh went on a spending spree with the funds. The couple claimed they didn't know the money had been sent in error, the Daily Mail reported. A couple are facing a trial in Australia on theft charges after they spent millions of dollars wrongly transferred to their bank account by Crypto.com.The exchange mistakenly transferred $10.5 million, rather than $100, to Thevamanogari Manivel's account in May 2021 after entering the wrong figure in the payment field, according to a default judgement in August. It took the company seven months to realize its mistake and try to recover the funds.During that time, prosecutors say that Manivel and her partner Jatinder Singh went on a spending spree with the cash. The Daily Mail reported that Manivel and Singh bought four properties with the money, including a $1.2 million home in Melbourne and put a $56,000 deposit on another house. The couple also gave more than $1 million to their three daughters.The couple also spent $70,000 on a car for one of their children, another $1.2 million to pay off a friend's mortgage, and spent the rest on furniture, art, and other luxury products, the outlet reported. Detective Senior Constable Conor Healy said Manivel, 40, was apprehended at Melbourne airport carrying a large amount of cash and luggage, and a one-way ticket to Malaysia, per the Mail.Singh had been a keen crypto trader, according to the Daily Mail, and had nearly $50,000 in his Crypto.com wallet. He reportedly claimed he had won the money from Crypto.com when the mistake was eventually noticed. Jessica Willard, Manivel's lawyer, told a hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court in October that her client may not have known where the funds came from."The whole issue in relation to Ms Manivel is the dishonesty element – whether she knew that the money was stolen or not," Willard said, per the Daily Mail.Manivel and Singh both pleaded not guilty to theft. Manivel also pleaded not guilty to a count of negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime, per the outlet.The court heard that $2 million in cash was still unaccounted for, along with assets worth a further $1 million.The couple face sentences of up to 20 years each if found guilty of stealing the funds from Commonwealth Bank Australia.The couple faced a directions hearing in Victoria's County Court last month, with a further hearing scheduled for late March, news.com.au reported. Prosecutor Damian Ellwood said communications between Crypto.com and Commonwealth Bank Australia would be "essential" to the case, per the outlet.Crypto.com didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In an industry first, Alaska Airlines delivered 1,287 pounds of farm-fresh Pacific Northwest hops to Maui and Anchorage so local breweries could make West Coast IPAs. 49th State Brewery49th State Brewery/Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines delivered 1,200 pounds of Pacific Northwest hops to Maui and Anchorage breweries. No US airline has ever undertaken a beer run of such proportions. The resulting beers will be served at Alaska Airlines airport lounges in Seattle, Portland, and Anchorage. In an industry first, Alaska Airlines delivered 1,287 pounds of farm-fresh Pacific Northwest hops to Maui and Anchorage so local breweries could make West Coast IPAs.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesIndia Pale Ales have become the definitive style of many breweries in California, Oregon, and Washington – with many fortunes made and lost trying to craft the next great West Coast IPA.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesThe key ingredient in a West Coast IPA: Hops grown mostly in Washington and Oregon.49th State Brewery49th State Brewery/Alaska AirlinesThere's a reason breweries in Hawaii and Alaska don't brew many West Coast IPAs.Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska AirlinesUndried hops are typically rushed from farm to brewery as soon as they are harvested to be added fresh to the boil during the beer-making process.Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska AirlinesThe hero of this story? Jake Spotts – a beer lover, US Air Force veteran, and postal affairs manager on Alaska Airlines cargo team.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesSpotts fell in love with beer during his 20-year military career that took him all over the world.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesHis conclusion after tasting beers around the globe: There's nothing better than the taste of fresh hops during harvest.Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska AirlinesThen one day Spotts had an idea: If Alaska Airlines could ship fresh salmon to the lower 48 states and around the world, why couldn't the carrier deliver fresh Northwest hops across the Pacific?Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesFor starters, no US airline had ever undertaken a beer run of such epic proportions on that grand of a commercial scale.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesThe key logistical hurdle: Delivering more than half a ton of perishable fresh hops...Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines...within 24 hours of harvest from Loftus Ranches in Yakima, Washington to Maui Brewing Co. in Hawaii and 49th State Brewing in Alaska.Bale Breaker BrewingBale Breaker Brewing/Alaska AirlinesThe biggest challenge: Brewers only have about 24 hours before the harvested hops start to degrade.Bale Breaker BrewingBale Breaker Brewing/Alaska AirlinesMaui Brewing and 49th State collaborated on the world's biggest beer run with Bale Breaker Brewing...Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska Airlines...which just happens to be located on the Loftus Ranches family-owned hop farm.Bale Breaker BrewingBale Breaker Brewing/Alaska AirlinesThe hop harvest at Loftus Ranches had to be timed perfectly.Bale Breaker BrewingBale Breaker Brewing/Alaska AirlinesHarvested hops were bagged, loaded into refrigerated trucks, and driven to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.Bale Breaker BrewingBale Breaker Brewing/Alaska AirlinesAlaska air cargo crews loaded the freshly-harvested crops onto waiting planes and shipped the hops non-stop to Maui and Anchorage.Alaska AirlinesAlaska AirlinesThe brewers in Hawaii and Alaska immediately added the Pacific Northwest hops to the boil stage of the beer-making process.Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska AirlinesThe resulting beers: Freshial Delivery Hazy Fresh Hop IPA from Alaska's 49th State Brewing and Hop Cargo Fresh Hop IPA from Hawaii's Maui Brewing.49th State Brewery49th State Brewery/Alaska AirlinesIPAs from the three brewers involved in the transpacific collaboration will be served at Alaska Airlines airport lounges in Seattle, Portland, and Anchorage…Alaska AirlinesAlaska Airlines…until the 200 kegs run dry or another beer run is hatched.Maui BrewingMaui Brewing/Alaska AirlinesRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"This is home," said Marcia Brown, a flight attendant who has been based in San Francisco for 38 years. By January 31, American Airlines flight attendants based in SFO must select an airport from a list of the airline's hubs outside of California to work out of.Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images American Airlines is closing its San Francisco base, potentially displacing 400 flight attendants.  Two-thirds have worked for the airline for 13 years or more, according to union calculations. 10 flight attendants told Insider a myriad of factors make it difficult to leave the Bay Area. The mass email hit some flight attendants' inboxes mid-flight. "Today it's with great regret that I let you know about our decision to close the SFO flight attendant base," American Airlines executive Brady Byrnes said in the September memo obtained by Insider.In closing its San Francisco base, citing economic factors and shifting customer demand, American presented 400 flight attendants with a choice that many said felt impossible to make: leave the airline or leave the state. The base is home to some of the carrier's most senior flight attendants, two-thirds of whom have been at the airline for 13 years or more, according to the union representing American Airlines flight attendants. By January 31, they must select an airport from a list of the airline's hubs outside of California to work out of. For those who can't or won't, the only options are to retire early (if eligible) or resign, the union told Insider.In interviews, 10 SFO-based flight attendants told Insider that a myriad of factors make it difficult to leave the Bay Area. (Some have asked to remain anonymous in fear of losing their jobs, but Insider verified their identities and employment.)  Some are single moms, some are battling health issues, some have children with special needs. Others have divorced spouses with joint custody of their children, elderly parents, or partners who can't uproot their careers."This is home," said Marcia Brown, a flight attendant who has been based in San Francisco for 38 years.Flight attendant Louis Rangel (left) started working for American in 1988 and has lived in the Bay Area his entire life. His two daughters are enrolled in local schools there.Courtesty of Uma Arunachalam (left) / Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images (right)An American Airlines spokesperson said it decided to no longer have flight attendants based in San Francisco based on logistical factors including the airline's changing size, shifting customer demand, and fleet changes."As we look at the future of our network, we expect that San Francisco will maintain the same level of flying it does today, but there are no plans to grow San Francisco and no future flying prospects based on our current network strategy," they said.Most SFO-based routes rank poorly for profitability compared to other routes across American's network, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. This year, the carrier cut the volume of flights out of San Francisco by approximately one-third, Cirium told Insider.  In June, the Supreme Court ruled that a state law requiring workers get a break every few hours does in fact apply to California-based airline employees. Some SFO-based flight attendants suspect they don't have the option to transfer to Los Angeles  — a larger American hub — because the airline could exit California altogether. American would have a "good business reason" to do so, John Masslon, a senior litigator at the Washington Legal Foundation, told Insider, especially when considering the airline's $37 billion debt. "You might have situations where the plane is unable to take off because of having to wait for a rest or meal break," he said. "Planes will be unable to land and it will have a cascading effect on delayed flights and mess up the entire system."A bitter ending SFO-based flight attendant Cynthia Duarte and her husband, who is battling brain cancer.Courtest of Cynthia DuarteAt 64-years-old, Brown plans to retire early, despite wanting to continue working. "It's hurtful that I've given them 38 years of my life and this is how I go out," she said. "I hate leaving feeling angry and bitter. I wanted to leave feeling sad because it's been a great career."Flight attendants who can't retire early or move will have to commute, which in the airline business means flying standby to get to and from their new base. The closest bases to SFO are Phoenix and Dallas, 2-hour and 3.5-hour flights respectively, and not all 400 of the affected flight attendants will receive their first choice. Less-senior employees may be stuck commuting across the country, adding dozens of unpaid hours to their schedules. Cynthia Duarte, a 38-year veteran, worries that the extra time she'd have to spend commuting would make it impossible to care for her husband, who has terminal brain cancer."Right now I'm only gone for one day, two times a week and he can barely handle that. You add a three-hour commute on to that and my time away triples," Duarte said. "I never thought at our age we would be dealing with an illness that makes every moment count. We don't know how many we have left."Many of her colleagues are in similarly tough situations. A single mom and flight attendant of over 20 years doesn't know how she'd commute and secure extra childcare for her young child, who needs an insulin pump changed every three days. A 30-year veteran battling a life-threatening illness said she can't afford to lose the company's health insurance, so she plans on flying the three hours to Dallas and back for each shift. Anthony Cataldo, a flight attendant of 33 years, said he plans on commuting to American's New York City base— a 5.5-hour flight for which he'll compete with other flight attendants for a standby seat. He estimates commuting will cost him up to $700 a month between hotel rooms, which aren't provided by the company in a situation like this, and parking. If a flight attendant misses a shift due to a lack of standby space, only three missed shifts per year are allowed. After that, each missed commuter shift results in two attendance "points." Employees with 11 points are subject to termination, according to American's attendance policy. One flight attendant, a single mother who has worked for American for over 20 years, said she's looking for a new job to avoid needing to move or commute out-of-state. "I have no one anywhere else. This is where my family is. This is where my support system is."A dream deniedAnthony Cataldo manages a rental unit in San Francisco. His husband works at a local university and their aging mothers also live in the Bay Area, he said, making it "basically impossible for us to get up and leave."Courtesy of Anthony CataldoIn an industry where seniority determines scheduling and pay, every year brings flight attendants closer to working international flights, top wages of $68.25 per hour, and more schedule flexibility and customization. For many, it's an end goal that can make the low starting pay, night shifts, and grueling reserve hours all worth it.The decades of experience with the goal of achieving that lifestyle are now effectively lost, one flight attendant told Insider."I put in over 20 years, and now they're telling me that I may not be able to put in the rest of my years," she said. "My plan was to retire at American."In a town hall meeting on September 27, company representatives told SFO-based flight attendants that after several calculations, the carrier determined that operating a base out of San Francisco was simply not financially viable, according to an audio recording shared with Insider by a verified source.Some employees expressed confusion on why they need to leave San Francisco if the carrier will still need to staff SFO flights. American specifically expressed plans to keep flights at the same level as today, meaning the airline will have to fly in flight attendants based at other airports. Considering the airline also said it will continue to hire new flight attendants, several crew members said it feels as though the airline wants to replace its veteran staff with new employees who are paid much less. "We have a 17-year-old daughter who's graduating high school this year, and an 11-year-old daughter. It doesn't make sense for me to ask my family to move," Louis Rangel, who started working for American in 1988 and grew up in the Bay area, said. "I don't know how to start over," he continued. "It's hard for many of us, to think that someone you've been dedicated to for 30 plus years, and then just, nope, this is it: Take it or leave it." Are you a flight attendant? Got a story or tip to share? Email this reporter at htowey@insider.com from a non-work address Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

December 8 could be a big day at major US airports as janitors, security guards, and baggage handlers plan to take action for better pay and benefits. Hundreds of Denver International Airport janitors walked off the job, striking for higher pay and less taxing workload at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado on Friday, October 1, 2021.Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images Airport service workers are planning a day of action on December 8 to demand better conditions. The workers want legislation that would guarantee higher wages and better benefits. The action comes ahead of the busy holiday season, and could affect 15 major US airports. December 8 could be a big day at some of the busiest airports across the country.Airport service workers are gearing up for a day of action, rallying, picketing, and marching to demand better conditions on the job. The action could affect 15 cities, including Chicago, New York, and Seattle — which host some of the busiest airports in the country and the world. Airport service workers, such as janitors, security guards, and baggage handlers, will call on Congress to pass the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act. That legislation, introduced by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey over the summer, would ensure that any airport that receives project grants must pay their airport service workers a minimum of $15 or the area's prevailing wage and stronger benefits. "Airport service workers all across this country help make our airports run. They are paid poverty wages, and it's been poverty wages for the past 20 years, and it's overwhelmingly workers of color who are often paid the lowest," Mary Kay Henry, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), told Insider. "Because service workers are fed up with business as usual, they're demanding that Congress take action to ensure that they have a fair shot."The action comes as service workers across the country demand better from work, especially under increasingly difficult circumstances. Passenger violence on airlines went up as travelers returned. Early retirement and pandemic layoffs — coupled with burnout over conditions — led to staffing shortages. All of that culminated in chaos.Anyone who tried to travel over the summer probably experienced nightmarish conditions, including hours-long delays, missing luggage, and airports halting ticket sales completely. The workers on the ground at airports are fed up with understaffing, according to Henry, and they've been "facing a crisis that's fueled by corporate greed." Now, airport service workers are the latest essential group to ask for more."Right now, it is the holidays, and we are going to work for them," Verna Montalvo, a cabin cleaner at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, told Insider. "We all want to spend time on holidays with the family."But the workers still show up and work over the holidays, "because the money that they pay us is not enough — we have to work double." Montalvo said she makes $12 an hour as a cabin cleaner, where there's always security concerns about what they may or may not find while cleaning out the planes.Aircraft cabin cleaners make on average $15 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter, with some positions paying just $15,500 to $20,9000 annually. While some cities have raised wages and benefits, according to Henry, that's not uniform across the country."Everybody gets sick and they still come to work, because they don't have insurance. And why? Because the payroll is not enough to see a doctor, and they still have to come and work," Montalvo said. Benefits are "very, very important" for all workers, she said, so that they don't stop seeing doctors or lose pay for getting surgery.Lashonda "Shonda" Barber, an international trash truck driver at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, said that with her pay, she's unable to pay her mortgage."The cost of living is so high here in Charlotte we really need low pay to go up, so we can afford to live here," Barber said.Barber is also contending with short staffing, and, with the holiday rush incoming, said that things will only intensify. "It's not easy work when you've got two people doing it, when there's supposed to be 10," she said. The only way to have a strong team, she said, is with higher pay and benefits, so people would be happy to come in and work. "I hope we win this. I really do. Because enough is enough. These people are suffering," Montalvo said.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The AC-130's green beam is meant "to let the adversaries know that you see him," the head of US Air Force Special Operations Command said. An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship over in Wisconsin in July 2021.US Air Force/Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney The US Air Force's AC-130 gunship has a reputation for delivering firepower to the battlefield. Two AC-130Js used a more subtle tool to aid US forces on the ground during the evacuation of Kabul. As US troops and their partners withdrew, the gunships kept watch with their "green beams." The AC-130 is one of the US military's most capable aircraft. Ground troops love the gunship and the capabilities it brings to the fight, but it can be effective even without deploying its large arsenal.During the chaotic evacuation of Kabul in August 2021, two AC-130J Ghostrider crews used a little-known laser sensor on their planes to help control the chaotic situation around the airport and keep enemy forces at bay as friendly troops carried out the evacuation.The crews, both from the 73rd Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, distinguished themselves during the operation and received the Mackay Trophy for the year's most meritorious flight, Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, said in September.The green beamAn AC-130J crew identifies a target with green light during an exercise in Florida in May.US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Ridge ShanWhile discussing the performance of Air Force special-operations crews during the Kabul evacuation, Slife referred to a targeting technology that Air Commandos use and affectionally call "the green beam."AC-130 crews use the green beam — which Slife called a "giant green laser pointer" — both to point things out to friendly forces and to deter adversaries by letting them know that they're in the gunship's sights. AFSOC started putting the laser on several of its aircraft around 2010.The heavily armed AC-130 usually operates at night because its bulky size and need to fly relatively low and slow to fire accurately make it more vulnerable than other aircraft.Using the laser has some downsides — mainly that it reveals the gunship's position, making it easier to target from the ground.The laser is meant "to let the adversaries know that you see him," Slife said at an event hosted by the Air and Space Forces Association. "So it's not a particularly popular capability among the crews, because the other end of that green beam is connected to me and I don't necessarily want to highlight my position like that."An AC-130J conducts call-for-fire training with Special Tactics operators in Florida in May.US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Carly KavishDuring the chaotic evacuation, AC-130 gunships and AH-64 attack helicopters provided air cover for troops on the ground, who had the challenging mission of evacuating tens of thousands of people who crowded the airport to escape the Taliban.During the evacuation, AC-130J crews used their green lasers, which are visible to the naked eye, to illuminate people who breached the Kabul airport compound, allowing ground forces intercept them or drive them off.The green beam proved extremely useful for "managing a very chaotic situation on the ground," Slife said, adding that gunship crews used it to communicate with ground forces about potential threats, thereby "building the situational awareness for the force on the ground and keeping the adversaries kind of pushed back while the evacuation was underway."While flying at night, it's very useful to have aids to see where exactly you are aiming, and the AC-130 has other laser-targeting and range-finding sensors to aid in the crew's marksmanship.Hitting something is not as simple as seeing it, since gravity, elevation, speed, and atmospheric conditions affect the trajectory of the AC-130's artillery and cannon fire, but having those aids is still invaluable for gunship crews.The AC-130 gunshipAn AC-130J crew operates the gunship's 105mm howitzer during training in Romania in May 2021.US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Brandon NelsonIn addition to being heavily armed, the AC-130 can remain over the battlefield for long periods, though its dwell time is limited by the cover of darkness and other conditions. Those features have made the gunship one of the most celebrated and highly valued aircraft by among ground troops.The AC-130 is essentially a precision artillery gun on wings. It carries deadly 105 mm and 30 mm cannons, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, GBU-39/53 small diameter bombs, AGM-176 Griffin precision-guided glide bombs.Air Force Special Operations Command has been experimenting with other weapons for the gunship, including a high-energy laser that could allow it to carry out stealthier ground attacks and to defeat incoming missiles.To engage its targets, the AC-130 employs the "pylon turn" technique in which it flies in a wide, steady turn, allowing its gun crews to fire away while aiming at a fixed point on the ground.The AC-130 has been around since the Vietnam War and has been so successful that the Air Force continues to upgrade it. Since the AC-130A was introduced in 1968, US crews have flown the -E, -H, -U, -W, and -J versions. The latest version, called Ghostrider, was introduced in 2017 and saw extensive combat in Afghanistan.Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. He is working toward a master's degree in strategy and cybersecurity at the Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Airline entrepreneurs sensing industry fear and dread have seized on the opportunity to take advantage of the worst crisis in commercial aviation history. Courtesy of Great Flyer Aviation Breeze will expand its US network to nearly 100 non-stop routes in 2023. Avelo's new Wilmington, Delaware base will serve five Florida cities in 2023. Canada Jetlines has been in development for a decade. An explosion of upstart airlines worldwide have used the pandemic crisis that rocked the aviation industry to launch new regional, domestic, and international services since 2020.Norse Atlantic AirwaysNot all of the new airlines are traditional upstarts. Some are reboots, rebirths, and brand extensions. But nearly all bring a new name and livery into the marketplace.Wizz Air lands on a snowy runway in Ukraine.Zahnoi Alex/ShutterstockA few airline upstarts have already failed – like Brazil's ITA and Aha in the US.Aha! liveryAha!Determined to never let a crisis go to waste, airline entrepreneurs sensing industry fear and dread have seized on the opportunity to take advantage of the worst crisis in commercial aviation history. Here are 25 airline upstarts that have launched around the globe since 2020.Play AirlinesPlay AirlinesNorth America Breeze Airways is the latest project from aviation entrepreneur David Neeleman who founded US-based JetBlue, Canada’s WestJet, and Brazil’s Azul and was a shareholder in Portugal’s flag carrier TAP.Breeze aircraft at Las Vegas.Breeze AirwaysThe low-cost carrier, which started operations in May 2021, will expand its US network in 2023 to nearly 100 non-stop routes serving second and third-tier airports in 33 cities across 19 states. Breeze started with Embraer E190/195s and began adding Airbus A220s in June 2022.Breeze Airways A220.Breeze AirwaysSources: Travel + Leisure | Insider Avelo Airlines set up a West Coast base in Burbank, California in April 2021 before opening an East Coast base in New Haven, Connecticut. A new Wilmington, Delaware base opening in February 2023 will serve five sun-soaked Florida cities.Avelo at Wilmington Airport in Delaware.Vincent Games/ILG SpotterThe low-cost carrier expects to be flying a fleet of 14 Boeing 737s between US secondary airports by the end of 2022.Avelo 737-800.Angel DiBilio/ShutterstockSource: USA Today Canada Jetlines, which has been in development for a decade, finally had its first flight in September 2022. The all-Canadian leisure airline expects to grow to a fleet of 15 Airbus A320s by 2025.Canada JetlinesCanada JetlinesSource: JetlinesThe Dominican Republic's Arajet, which started operations in September 2022, plans to fly to 22 destinations in 12 Caribbean countries. The low-cost carrier will operate a fleet of Boeing 737s – with five to start and another 26 on order.A Boeing ArajetBoeing/ArajetSource: ArajetSouth AmericaThe low-cost Ultra Air, which began passenger operations in February 2022, flies to seven Columb ian cities on a fleet of Airbus A320neo aircraft with plans to add international routes. Ultra Air founder William Shaw is the former CEO of Mexico's Interjet and Columbia's Viva Air.An Ultra Air AirbusAirbusSource: UltraJetSmart began its low-cost service to Peru aboard Airbus A320neo's in June 2022, expanding the South American carrier's base beyond Argentina and Chile. JetSmart Peru received authorization for international flights to Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador in September 2022.A Fly Arystan Airbus A320neoHerve Gousse/AirbusSource: JetSmartEuropeThe Icelandic Play airline started in June 2021 by executives from defunct low-cost carrier Wow has plans for a swift expansion. Play launched flights to New York, Boston, Orlando, and Baltimore in Spring 2022.PLAY A321neo.PLAYSource: PlayITA Airways purchased the struggling Alitalia and took over as Italy's flag carrier with a new name and livery on the old fleet. ITA took its maiden flight in October 2021 and flew 9 million passengers during its first year.ITA Airways planes in new and old liveries.Davide Calabresi/ShutterstockSource: ITAAeroitalia, which is expected to start domestic operations in December 2022, is the Italian airline startup of former Avianca owner German Efromovich. The carrier is expected to operate a fleet of Boeing 737s out of Forli International Airport in Northern Italy.A plane from Colombia's Avianca airline taxis at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota in 2007.Rodrigo Arangua/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: ReutersSkyAlps, which began operations in June 2021 in the heart of the Alps, specializes in alpine vacation trips from 17 destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean aboard Dash 8-Q400 aircraft.Passengers board a SkyAlps airline plane parked on the apron at Hamburg Airport.Bodo Marks/Picture Alliance via Getty ImagesSource: SkyAlpsNorse Atlantic follows Norwegian's discontinued long-haul business model – right down to flying Norwegian's former Boeing 787s. Norwegian's founder Bjorn Kjos is behind the new low-cost airline project.Norse Atlantic AirwaysNorse Atlantic, which launched in Summer 2022, has already started canceling hundreds of flights from its winter schedule as seasonal leisure demand softens.Norse Atlantic AirwaysSource: Norse AtlanticFlyr, which started flying in August 2021, flies across Norway and to European and Mediterranean destinations on a fleet of Boeing 737s. The low-cost carrier cut flight offerings in half this winter to reduce operating costs.FlyrFlyrSource: FlyrFlyOne Armenia, which began operations in December 2021, has already become the leading domestic carrier among all Armenian airlines. The subsidiary of Moldova's FlyOne will start flying Airbus A320s to Milan in December 2022.FlyOne ArmeniaFlyOne ArmeniaSource: FlyOneFly Arna, which is based out of the Armenian capital of Yerevan, made its first domestic flights in July 2022. The Air Arabia-backed airline has since added Egyptian destinations and is working on acquiring flight permits for Beirut and Kuwait.Air ArabiaAir ArabiaSource: FlyArnaWizz Air Malta is the latest entry in the Hungarian budget carrier's ambitious expansion plan across Europe. Wizz plans to have nearly 80 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft assigned to the new Maltese entity by Summer 2023.Wizz AirWizz AirSource: WizzBees Airline, which started operations in March 2021, shifted its 737 fleet to France prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The ongoing conflict, closure of the Ukrainian airspace and cancellation of the Bees air operator's certificate has put the airline's future in question.Bees AirlineBees AirlineSource: BeesAsia & Pacific RegionAkasa Air will be helmed by former Jet Airways and GoAir CEO Vinay Dube and backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, known as India's Warren Buffett. The low-cost airline, which started flying in August 2022, plans to have a fleet of more than 70 Boeing 737s by 2026.Akasa AirAkasa AirSource: Times of LondonVietravel Airlines, backed by a tour operator specializing in Asian travel, flies to popular Vietnam tourist destinations from its two major hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The leisure carrier, which started flying in January 2021, plans to operate 26 routes by the end of 2022.Vietravel AirlinesVietravel AirlinesSource: CAPAFly Jinnah will start flying in November 2022 from its Karachi International Airport base. The Pakistan startup will use Airbus A320-200s from partner Air Arabia.A Cambodia Airways Airbus A330-200P. Pigeyre/AirbusSource: Fly JinnahMiddle EastWizz Air Abu Dhabi, which launched in January 2021, flies to over 20 destinations from its United Arab Emirates base. The Abu Dhabi subsidiary of the Hungarian budget carrier operates a fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.Wizz Air is Europe's third largest low-cost regional airline.Getty ImagesSource: WizzTurkey's quickly assembled Southwind Airlines began flights during the summer of 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Flights aboard Airbus A330s and A321s to Moscow started in September 2022, serving as a connection between Russia and the rest of Europe.Airbus A321XLRJean-Vincent Reymondon/AIrbusSource: PoliticoAfricaLift, which launched in December 2020, flies to South Africa's three most populous cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. The new carrier was started in 90 days by co-founders Gidon Novick, the former CEO of South Africa's Kulula low-cost airline, and Jonathan Ayache, an Uber operations chief in Africa.Gidon Novick and Jonathan Ayache with the new Lift airline at Cape Town International Airport in December 2020.Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty ImagesSource: ReutersGreen Africa Airways, which had its inaugural flight in August 2021, serves eight domestic airports in Nigeria. The carrier plans to become one of the largest operators of ATR 72-600 turboprops in the region.Green Africa AirwaysAirbusSource: Green AfricaValueJet, which had its inaugural flight in October 2022, plans to expand its routes as its fleet of Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft continues to grow. The Nigerian upstart positions itself as a hybrid carrier with both low-cost and premium options for passengers.Bombardier CRJ-900BombardierSource: The Guardian NigeriaThe launch of Zambia Airways is part of a larger pan-African strategy by Ethiopian Airlines, which took a 45% stake in the startup. Zambia's new flag carrier, which began flying in September 2021, started with domestic and regional routes.Ethiopian AirlinesEthiopian AirlinesSource: Ethiopian AirlinesRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

American and British Airways have invested $400 million into JFK's new Terminal 8, where the two will become "roommates" beginning on Thursday. Taylor Rains/Insider American Airlines and British Airways will become "roommates" at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Starting Thursday, both carriers will operate out of a renovated Terminal 8 to allow for easier connections. The Oneworld partners have invested $400 million into the facility to build a new check-in area, gates, and lounges. American Airlines and British Airways are moving in together.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesThe new "roommates," as American CEO Robert Isom put it at a press conference on Tuesday, will take over Terminal 8 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in a joint effort to better streamline their Oneworld partnership.Departures curb for American and British Airways at JFK Terminal 8.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesThe new terminal is a joint $400 million privately funded investment, which was announced in early 2019, and will add new lounges, gates, and facilities.(L-R): Iberia CEO Javier Sánchez-Prieto, British Airways CEO Sean Doyle, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom, Port Authority Executive Director Richard Cotton, Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Queen Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. cut the ribbon to the new Terminal 8 at JFK on Tuesday, November 29.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesThe pair will set up shop starting on Thursday, meaning American customers connecting to a British Airways flight will no longer have to change terminals between legs.The new gate space at Terminal 8 JFK.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesAccording to Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton, the co-location will allow for "superb hourly services between JFK and London," essentially creating a regular shuttle between the two international gateways.The new gate space at Terminal 8.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesTo allow for easy transit, the airlines have created two co-branded check-in areas for American and British Airways' premium passengers at the Terminal 8 departures lobby.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesThe first check-in area is a private room that features desks, marble ascents, and couches. The exclusive space is hidden away behind glass doors.American AirlinesAmerican Flagship First, Flagship Business Plus, Conciergekey, and American Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro flyers can use the exclusive space.American AirlinesMeanwhile, British Airways first and gold members can also check in here, according to American.British Airways planes at Heathrow airport.Jonathan Brady/Getty ImagesThe second premium check-in area is an open-air space next door, which includes a dozen kiosks…The kiosks in the co-branded check-in space.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American Airlines…and several priority lanes for bag drop.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesAmerican Flagship Business and AAdvantage Platinum members can use this space, as well as British Airways Club World and silver members.Taylor Rains/InsiderTravelers can enter the TSA checkpoint directly from both premium spaces.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesCheck-in areas for other passengers will be separate…Check-in area for other American Airlines passengers.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American Airlines…and British Airways and American will have different counters.Check-in area for other British Airways passengers.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesOther Oneworld alliance members like Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways also currently fly out of Terminal 8, with Iberia moving in on Thursday and Japan Airlines joining in May 2023, according to Isom.Qatar Airways check-in area in Terminal 8.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesAirside, the renovated terminal adds five new widebody gates and four new widebody parking areas…One of the new American gates.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American Airlines…as well as an improved baggage handling system and 130,000 square feet of extra space.One of the new gates.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesOver the next 18 months, the concessions at Terminal 8 will be revamped, hosting more than 115 women and minority-owned businesses worth over $161 million in contracts. Local businesses were also awarded about $33 million in contracts.American Airlines logos through the years are displayed in Terminal 8.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: Port Authority of New York and New JerseyAlso past security, premium passengers traversing the new terminal will have access to three new elegant lounges: Chelsea, Soho, and Greenwich.Inside the Soho lounge.Taylor Rains/InsiderGreenwich will be the rebranded American Flagship Lounge, which opened in 2017. The reimagined space will "feature a premium wine table, expansive seating, and chef-inspired meals."American Airlines' Flagship Lounge at JFK Terminal 8.American AirlinesSource: American AirlinesAmerican customers flying Flagship Business or with AAdvantage Platinum status on "qualifying Flagship itineraries" can access Greenwich. For British Airways, those with Club lounge access can enter.American Airlines' Flagship Lounge at JFK Terminal 8.American AirlinesSource: American AirlinesChelsea and Soho are the crown jewels of the terminal, acting as brand-new co-branded lounges that can be accessed by both American and British Airways passengers.Inside the dining area of the Chelsea lounge.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesChelsea features a circular champagne bar, plenty of seating, a dining area with on-demand meals, and large bathrooms with showers.The circular champagne bar inside Chelsea.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesBritish Airways first class passengers, American customers who purchased Flagship First or Flagship Business Plus, and American Conciergekey travelers on Flagship itineraries can access Chelsea.British Airways passengers with access to the Concord Room can also enter.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesNext door is Soho, which is a larger lounge with a wine bar made of petrified wood, floor-to-ceiling windows, showers, food, and a view of the ramp.Inside the Soho lounge.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesA British Airways Boeing 777 aircraft that just landed from London Heathrow was in full view from the lounge during our visit.Taylor Rains/InsiderThose with British Airways Executive Club Gold, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, or Conciergekey status can enter Soho.British Airways passengers with access to the First lounge can also enter.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: American AirlinesCongressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY 5th District) called the new JFK terminal a "gamechanger" at Tuesday's press conference, saying the new facility can "compete will any terminal around the world."Taylor Rains/InsiderBefore the move, British Airways lived next door at Terminal 7 for 51 years. Company CEO Sean Doyle told media on Tuesday that the airline flew its first-ever Boeing 747 into the facility…A British Airways Boeing 747-400.Nicolas Economou/Getty ImagesA retired British Airways Boeing 747 was bought for $1.35 by an English airport and converted into a flightless 'party plane' event space — see inside the renovated Queen of the Skies…as well as operated the supersonic Concorde jet there for 26 years.aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesSee 7 supersonic passenger-jet concepts that will connect cities in as little as one hour and fly up to 9 times faster than the speed of soundWith the move, Terminal 7 will be demolished to make space for the new Terminal 6, which is expected to be complete by 2027 and expand JetBlue Airways' stronghold at JFK.Rendering of JetBlue's new T6 at JFK.Port Authority of New York and New JerseyJetBlue is getting an all-new $3.9 billion terminal in its 'hometown' of NYC as the airline continues to expand in the US and abroad — see what it will look likeThe carrier currently flies out of Terminal 5, but the $4 billion redevelopment plan for Terminal 6 will add 1.2 million square feet of space and connect the two facilities. The Lufthansa Group will also move into the new terminal.JetBlue terminal 5 at JFK.Leonard Zhukovsky/ShutterstockHowever, despite the addition, JetBlue's powerful Northeast Alliance with American still won't have truly seamless connectivity at JFK.American Airlines and JetBlue AirwaysChris O'Meara/APAmerican and JetBlue are expanding their Northeast Alliance despite a looming DoJ lawsuit that could unravel it allJetBlue passengers connecting to an overseas American flight in Terminal 8 will need to take the shuttle bus that connects the two terminals airside.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: JFK AirportIsom told Insider that the airline wants to make sure those passengers have an easy connection, noting the airport's "great bus service" that he believes is "superior to some of the walking distances encountered at other terminal-to-terminal transports."Robert Isom speaking at Tuesday's press conference at JFK's Terminal 8.Taylor Rains/InsiderTerminal 8 marks the first phase of JFK's overhaul, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In addition to the Terminal 8 and Terminal 6 projects, the airport has also broken ground on the New Terminal One.Governor Kathy Hochul, joined by Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Executive Director Rick Cotton, breaks ground on the New Terminal One (NTO) at John F. Kennedy International Airport Thursday morning September 8, 2022.Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Kathy HochulSource: Port Authority of New York and New JerseyThe $9.5 billion renovation will include a new departures hall, arrivals hall, customs hall, restaurants, shops, and lounges.Rendering of New Terminal One's arrivals hall.Port Authority of New York and New JerseyConstruction on JFK's new $9.5 billion international terminal just broke ground — see what the new facility will look likeRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Cassie De Pecol traveled to all 193 sovereign nations in addition to Taiwan, Kosovo, and Palestine, and is now an advocate for female solo travel. Cassie De Pecol previously held the Guinness World Records for "Fastest time to visit all sovereign countries (female)" and "Fastest time to visit all sovereign countries."Courtesy of Cassie De Pecol Cassie De Pecol has traveled to all 193 sovereign nations in addition to Taiwan, Kosovo, and Palestine. She completed her trip around the world in slightly over 18 months, breaking the record at the time. These are some of her top travel tips — from her favorite airlines to how to stay safe as a solo traveler. This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with 33-year-old Cassie De Pecol, a travel influencer who previously held the Guinness World Record for traveling to every country in the world in the fastest time in 2017  (her record has since been broken). She is the author of "Expedition 196" and the founder of Her International, a non-profit organization that funds female-driven businesses addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The following has been edited for length and clarity.Growing up, I didn't actually travel at all besides to Canada, where my mom is from.It wasn't till the age of 18 that I booked a one-way ticket to Costa Rica for school. From there, I never looked back.After I finished my studies, I went to Nicaragua, traveled throughout Latin America, and went backpacking across Europe. Then I ran out of money. I had traveled around backpacking in about 25 countries, working odd jobs here and there. I worked in hotels and hostels cleaning toilets, making beds — whatever needed to be done — and they would give me a free room and board in exchange. I also had a blog and would reach out to try to write for other people's blogs to help me make small amounts of cash to keep me going. Sometimes they would pay me $100 bucks for the month and I'd use that to buy my next flight. So that's how I was able to sustain a very small income at the time.I wish I had known about credit cards and credit card points sooner. But back then I couldn't even qualify for a card if I wanted to, so I used platforms like Workaway.info to find jobs in exchange for free housing. When I came home, I was approaching my mid-twenties and didn't know what I wanted to do in life, but knew I loved to travel. I'm one to have very outlandish ideas and I very much follow the "you only live once" sort of mindset. So I decided to go after the Guinness World Record for traveling to every country in the fastest amount of time.How I traveled to 193 countries in just over 18 months Cassie De Pecol in North Korea.Courtesy of Cassie De PecolThe trip started when I was 25 and ended when I was 27. It took around a year and a half of trying to figure out all the logistics. There were the flights and the political situations, weather patterns — I looked into it all. I strategically started with the most expensive places, since I had enough money to start out, and then figured out the rest later on. I had saved roughly $10,000 from working two babysitting jobs 80 hours a week. I also relied on a couple of credit cards with great travel rewards incentives.It's a bit challenging to calculate the total cost of the trip as I received free hotels, experiences, flights, etc., but the trip landed somewhere around the $110,000 mark. AIG was an important sponsor and really looked out for my safety, offering me kidnap and ransom insurance as well. The Asia-Pacific and Oceanic regions were the most expensive, so that's where I started out. Then I went to Europe. At this point, I was running out of money and knew Europe was much easier to travel on a budget.I was also meeting with university students and Ministers of Tourism, getting speaking engagements and planting trees and such. So that also required planning around.For countries like North Korea and Yemen, I had to be more strategic in my planning. To get into North Korea as an American tourist you need to pay $1,000 just for the minimum three-day visa, and you have to fly in on their airline. I was the only Westerner in my tour group. I stayed at the same hotel that Otto Warmbier, the American student who was imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months, stayed in. This was just six months after that whole ordeal happened, so I was walking on eggshells the whole time. I mean, the people were nice and the tour guide was nice. It was definitely an experience — but one I wouldn't do again.Cassie De Pecol at a speaking engagement.Courtesy of Cassie De PecolNone of my speaking engagements during the expedition were paid. I poured myself into my work pro-bono and wasn't making an income. I knew it would pay off eventually, but it was a big struggle financially to give out free work.I wasn't allowed to spend more than 14 days in a country. So when I ran out of money, I would fly home to Connecticut to my parents' house and go to New York for conferences and networking events to try to secure funding from brands and investors. It was really a pedal-to-the-metal situation so I could secure funding and take off within two weeks. That part was really challenging and put a damper on the experience — It was kind of depressing to finish this trip around the world so quickly. But it was also so invigorating to see the whole world and want to spend more time in these places. 10 lessons I learned while traveling around the worldCassie De Pecol in Yemen.Courtesy of Cassie De Pecol1. Be a traveler, not a touristI always try to support the local economy by staying in local hotels instead of big corporate chains. Also, going off the beaten path and visiting local communities and supporting them as opposed to just mainstream tourist activities. 2. Don't rule out entire countries just because of one bad experienceI don't think there are any countries that I wouldn't go back to besides North Korea. Even if I had a kind of negative experience in a country, I would always give it a second or third chance because a lot of the time, it just depends on the circumstance, or the day, or who you're with.My top countries are always changing and it's always so hard to pick when I've traveled to so many and had such great experiences. The most underrated country in my opinion is Pakistan. It's a natural and culturally beautiful country with really kind people.3.  Take advantage of credit cards and pointsIf people have the opportunity to get a couple of credit cards that have good travel points programs, I would really recommend that. Specifically, the American Express Platinum, Chase Reserve, and Chase Preferred cards. I used Chase Reserve for my entire trip around the world and would use IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card for hotels.4. Know how to defend yourself in an emergencyCassie De Pecol in Mongolia.Courtesy of Cassie De PecolAs a solo female traveler, it was important to me to know how to defend myself. If you're a really small woman and there's a really big guy, it's good to know what you have to do to save your own life. I'm a huge advocate for women knowing Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art. Aside from that, just practice little things like not roaming the streets with headphones in, always being aware, not looking lost, and knowing where you're going. Always let at least one friend or family member know where you are, don't feel that you need to be kind and answer to everyone – your safety and sense of surroundings come first.5. Pack door stoppers, mace, and a satellite GPS tracking deviceThere was a man who broke into my hotel room in Burkina Faso at three in the morning and it was really scary. I wish that I had brought one of those doorstoppers with me to prevent it. I also recommend bringing mace — you can pack it in your checked bag. One other thing I used was a satellite GPS tracking device with an SOS button. So if my phone can't track me, at least this device can.6. I found hotels are usually safer than Airbnbs for solo travelersI used Airbnb maybe 10 times or so. I tried to stay in hotels more just because it tends to be safer for solo travel. They'll have a shuttle from the airport, you'd have someone you can call down to at the front desk. There's more security. So I felt safer and I also found better deals with hotels. It was actually more budget-friendly to stay in hotels than Airbnbs most of the time. But I did have some great experiences in the Airbnbs I did stay in.7. Being humble and empathetic can help with culture shockWhen I traveled outside North America for the first time when I was 18, it was a huge culture shock. The way I adjusted over time was just recognizing that these people are just like me – a human – trying to survive and make the best out of this life we're given. Once I was able to humble myself, I was able to feel "at home" in even the most precarious of places, and that culture shock never came back.All every human wants is a hot meal, a roof over their head, clean drinking water, and someone who loves them. Generally speaking, most people want to show you the beauty of the countries they live in, and get excited to show you. Connecting with communities from a grassroots level, supporting their endeavors and economies, and recognizing the humility in others and yourself can open up a world of contentment and inspiration. I did find most countries welcoming, if not the government, the people.8. Do research to see how you can offset your carbon footprintCassie De Pecol tree planting in Bhutan.Courtesy of Cassie De PecolSustainable travel is something I'm super passionate about. I think it's important for people to see if they can offset their carbon footprint. Some Airlines have carbon footprint models that you can purchase, and certain organizations you can donate to in the country that you land in. I planted trees in countries that I landed in to offset the emissions, and stayed in sustainable and regenerative hotels. 9. If you can, pack lightFor my trip around the world, I traveled with just a backpack. I had one outfit in there, maybe two pairs of leggings, two sports bras, plus supplements, and my camera equipment. I prefer traveling lighter but it's harder for me to travel lighter these days. So I definitely tend to check a bag more often than not. But when I was racing around the world, I wouldn't have been able to wait at the baggage claim after every flight so it definitely worked out for me to travel that way.10. Rack up those airline points: My favorite US airline is Delta and my favorite international airline is probably Qatar, they're both really great.Get points, become members of all the hotel groups and airlines, and use your credit card for everything so you can use all the points you accumulate towards your travel. I've learned it actually doesn't have to be that expensive to travel — you can do it on a budget. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Opinion: Before US lawmakers sign off on billions more in security aid for Ukraine, they need to answer a question: How does this end? President Joe Biden at a Lockheed Martin facility in Troy, Alabama that makes Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons on May 3.Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The final weeks of the current Congress will feature debate over another aid package for Ukraine. Before opening the checkbook again, lawmakers need to ask how they want this war to end and how more aid will bring it about. Andrew C. Jarocki is a master's student at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. While national attention may be focused on the winners and losers of the midterm elections, a high-stakes contest in the lame-duck session of Congress is just beginning.House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy ignited a firestorm of criticism when he commented that Ukraine may not be able to expect a "blank check" of American aid in the new Congress. Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell have since vowed to rush more assistance to Ukraine before the end of the year.Before Washington opens the checkbook again, lawmakers need to subject aid proposals to a simple Petraeus Test. Gen. David Pretraus, who oversaw the American surge in Iraq, often exposed the assumptions of plans presented to him with a simple command: tell me how this ends.So far, the story of American support of Ukraine against Russia's terrible invasion attempt has been one of unhesitating generosity. The Biden administration has committed more than $19 billion in security assistance and Congress has approved nearly $66 billion in total funds for Kyiv since the start of the war in February.But how does this end? Unlike Stinger missiles and Humvees, that tough but crucial line of questioning has been in short supply.Ukrainian troops load a truck with US-made Javelin anti-tank missiles after their delivery at Kyiv's Boryspil airport on February 11.SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty ImagesCurrently, Russia and Ukraine are locked in a stalemate. Russian offensives have continually underperformed and been frustrated. With winter looming and the hope for a quick victory all but evaporated, each side is increasingly dug in.For Ukraine, ceding even an inch is an unacceptable reward for Russia's barbaric invasion. Meanwhile in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin's political (and perhaps even personal) fate now depends on the ability to claim victory as a growing number of Russian soldiers return in body bags.If the two sides are headed toward an indefinite period of fighting to the last man, Washington must be clear-eyed about the fact that there are no core American national security interests at stake. Ukraine is now increasingly requesting American economic support to keep the Ukrainian energy sector, schools, and government running as the war drags on.America must not sleep-walk into becoming ever more invested in a distant conflict that is tragic but secondary in strategic importance. The recent painful withdrawal from Afghanistan should serve as a reminder of how even the most justified mission can quickly morph into years- and even decades-long quagmires with no satisfying total victory.The need to be realistic is all the more important when considering that America is now increasingly underwriting a war of attrition against a nuclear power desperate to save face. Some members of Congress have explicitly called for America to make an open-ended and long-term commitment to Ukraine in the lame-duck session.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Kyiv on April 30.Getty ImagesTwo things can be true at the same time: Russia's war of aggression is utterly abhorrent and it makes no strategic sense for America to endlessly promise more support for Ukraine. Such a commitment would be reckless, encouraging Ukraine to ignore opportunities for a negotiated peace with Russia and incentivizing Russia to escalate the conflict to the point of challenging America to either directly enter the conflict or back off.Neither outcome is preferred, but thankfully both can be avoided with increased foresight in the current aid conversation. Any future American assistance to Ukraine must be conditioned on Kyiv's willingness to continue settlement talks with Russia. Likewise, Washington's diplomatic and economic pressure on Moscow should aim to incentivize a negotiated end to the war.Members of Congress owe it to American taxpayers to thoughtfully pause before shoveling more resources into a war on the other side of the planet. At the very least, legislators must push advocates of more aid for Ukraine to explain exactly how America's national security would be enhanced. The Pentagon's ongoing struggles to track the end users of weapons already transferred to Ukraine should only add to this rightful skepticism.As the debate in Washington intensifies and the pleas from the battlefield continue to stream in, cooler heads must prevail in remaining laser-focused on the likely costs, benefits, and liabilities of any future aid to Ukraine.Just one simple request should echo through the hallways of Capitol Hill during this lame-duck session: Just tell me how this ends.Andrew C. Jarocki is a master's student at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. He formerly served as the editor-in-chief of Realist Review, and his work has appeared in Defense News, The National Interest, and Responsible Statecraft.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Long lines and a lack of empty seats inside its Sky Club lounges have prompted Delta to restrict access and increase membership fees. Delta Air Lines aircraft.On The Run Photo/Shutterstock Delta Air Lines is changing who can access its Sky Clubs after complaints of long lines and crowds from customers. Club membership and guest pass fees have increased and they can no longer be purchased by just anyone. Some Medallion members can no longer access the lounge when traveling internationally in select cabins. Accessing Delta's popular Sky Club lounge just got a little harder for some frequent fliers of the airline.On Wednesday, the Atlanta-based carrier announced sweeping changes to its Sky Club, including increasing fees, removing access from some travelers, and only allowing Medallion members to purchase a membership.According to Delta, starting January 1, only Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Medallion members can buy annual memberships to the Sky Club. The fees will also increase, as outlined below:Individual: The former price was $545 or 54,500 miles, but will increase to $695 or 69,500 miles.Executive, which includes guests: The former price was $845 or 84,500 miles, but will increase to $1495 or 149,500 miles.Effective February 2, those buying an executive membership will also see a higher fee for each guest, increasing from $39 per person per location to $50 (3,900 to 5,000 miles for Club members paying with miles), according to Delta.Another significant change is restricting those that can access the lounge. Sky Club members flying on a basic economy ticket, as well as Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members flying internationally in Delta's Main Cabin or Comfort+ can no longer access the Sky Club, effective February 2.Access can be granted through other means, like having an eligible American Express credit card or a Club membership, according to Delta. The fee for eligible American Express cardholders to bring a guest has also increased from $39 to $50.Meanwhile, Diamond Medallion members who reach status for 2024 will have to spend three Choice Benefit selections for executive Sky Club membership instead of two, while individual memberships will no longer be available via Choice Benefits, per Delta.These are huge changes for the airline, especially since anyone can currently purchase a Sky Club membership. However, long lines and a lack of empty seats inside the lounges created frustration for travelers, prompting Delta to make the changes."While we're thrilled to see so many customers enjoy the fruits of our teams' hard work, our goal now is to balance the popularity of the Clubs with the premium service and atmosphere for which they were designed – and that our guests deserve," Dwight James, SVP of customer engagement & loyalty, and CEO of Delta Vacations, said in a press release.According to CNBC, the airline has already made efforts to reduce crowds, like adding VIP lines to certain Clubs, limiting access to only three hours before departure, and reporting lounge busyness to travelers in Atlanta and Detroit as "not busy" to "extremely busy."Since April, Delta has opened four new Sky Clubs across its network, including at New York's LaGuardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Kyiv caught the world off-guard with its fast-paced counteroffensive this summer, including an elite Russian unit in a key city in eastern Ukraine. Destroyed apartments in the Ukrainian city of Lyman on November 27.Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images During Ukraine's counteroffensive this autumn, Ukrainian troops surrounded the city of Lyman. Lyman is an important hub in eastern Ukraine, and a larger Russian force was trapped there. Russian troops in Lyman and those who retreated took heavy losses, including an elite GRU unit. As September rolled around, everyone expected the Ukrainian military to launch a major attack against Kherson in the south.For weeks, Ukrainian forces had been using US-supplied M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to launch long-range precision strikes on Russian supply lines and communications networks in southeastern Ukraine.However, the Ukrainians surprised the Russians and the world by launching a fast-paced counteroffensive in the east around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. In just a few days, Ukrainian forces liberated hundreds of square miles of territory and scores of villages.The fact that the Russian high command had decided to mass considerable forces in the south to defend Kherson, which Moscow ended up retreating from in November, aided Kyiv's counteroffensive, which sliced through Russian lines like a hot knife through butter and repeatedly flanked large Russian formations — including at a major logistical hub in far eastern Ukraine.The Battle for LymanUkrainian soldiers on an armored vehicle near Lyman on October 6.YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty ImagesThe town of Lyman quickly became the center of attention as Ukrainian forces partially surrounded it in the final days of September, trapping a large Russian garrison in there.Lyman is a key logistical node commanding an important road over the Siverskyy Donets River in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Its loss compounded Russian setbacks in the final weeks of summer and stoked further anger among pro-war commentators in Russia.British military intelligence assessed after the battle that the Russian force defending Lyman was a hodgepodge of mobilized reservists and depleted units of professional troops.The Ukrainians offered the considerable number of Russian troops trapped in Lyman an opportunity to surrender. The Russians opted to retreat under cover of darkness but suffered heavy casualties from Ukrainian ambushes and long-range strikes.Wrecked Russian military equipment in Lyman on October 11.Andriy Andriyenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAfter the battle, the BBC's Russian service reported that the reconnaissance company of the GRU's 3rd Guards Spetsnaz Brigade was caught in the fight and suffered heavy casualties, losing as many as nine members, the most for it in a single battle so far in the war.Based on its own research and that of Russian media and volunteers, the BBC estimated 56 members of the brigade had been killed since Moscow launched its invasion in February. While the brigade's size is classified, the BBC said that 75% of the unit's troops may have been killed or wounded so far, based on estimates of attrition for Russian units in Ukraine.The BBC based its report about the toll in Lyman on interviews with family members and a review of posts on the VKontakte social network from September 30 and October 1.One VK post said the brigade had been "laid to waste" and "thrown into the meat grinder," according to a translation by The Moscow Times.Hard to replaceRussia's 2nd Separate Special Purpose Brigade, a Spetsnaz GRU brigade, during training.Konstantin Morozov/Russian Ministry of Defense/Mil.ruThe GRU is Russia's military-intelligence agency. It conducts several different mission sets, including human intelligence, cyber-espionage, sabotage, and assassinations. Its cadre of Spetsnaz commandos is among the best in the Russian military.It will be hard to replace those losses. Competent special operators require years of basic and advanced military training, as well as training tailored to their mission sets. By the time they join an operational unit, their militaries have invested millions of dollars to prepare them.One of the US special-operations community's core principles is that "special operations forces cannot be mass produced," and the training pipeline for US operators can last years.It can take six months from boot camp to selection and assessment for soldiers to join the 75th Ranger Regiment, the world's premier light infantry special-operations unit. It can take more than a year and a half to become a Navy SEAL and more than two years to become an Air Force Pararescueman.A Ukrainian soldier in a cemetery in Lyman on October 11.Ashley Chan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAfter years of standard and advanced military training, tier-one US special-operations units, such as the Army's Delta Force, require an additional selection and advanced operator training course that can take more than six months and weeds out even experienced troops.The Russian military as a whole is taking a battering in Ukraine, though casualty estimates vary widely. Gen. Mark Milley, the US military's top general, said in early November that Russia had likely suffered "well over 100,000" troops killed and wounded.Moscow launched what it called a "special military operation" with only part of its military and has since announced a "partial mobilization" to call up more troops. Its losses have been so heavy that special-operations troops have often been used as regular infantrymen in an attempt to plug holes in Russian lines.Poor planning also led to the misuse of elite Russian units, like the vaunted VDV airborne forces, which were battered in a failed effort to capture an airport near Kyiv in the war's opening days.Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. He is working toward a master's degree in strategy and cybersecurity at the Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Delta Air Lines is upping the cost and requirements for travelers to gain access to their Sky Club lounges after facing complaints from customers of overcrowding......»»

Rental Cars Used By Biden's Secret Service Agents In Nantucket Destroyed In Fire Five vehicles rented by the Secret Service to protect President Biden and his family during a trip to Nantucket were destroyed in a mysterious fire on Monday morning.  The Nantucket Current reported just after 0530 ET on Monday, and less than 24 hours after Secret Service agents dropped off the vehicles at Nantucket Memorial Airport, a fire erupted in at least one and spread to the other four.  The vehicles were among numerous cars that had been rented by Hertz to the Secret Service during President Biden's stay on the island for the Thanksgiving holiday, two sources told the Current. They had been returned to Hertz less than 24 hours before the fire broke out. -- The Current.  The vehicles -- including a Chevy Suburban, a Ford Explorer, a Ford Expedition, a Jeep Gladiator, and an Infiniti QX80 -- were all rented from Hertz. Agents used the vehicles for security purposes, and the president nor his family road in any of the SUVs, a Secret Service spokesman told Bussiness Insider.  "We had no issues when we drove the vehicles and they were returned without incident.  "We look forward to following up with local fire authorities on their review of the incident," Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesman, said The Nantucket Current pointed out investigators have been "focused on a white Ford Expedition as the initial source of the fire." They say the vehicle was under a safety recall by Ford due to faulty wiring that has caused fires elsewhere, noting the defective part had yet to be fixed.  The local newspaper obtained footage of the blaze at the airport's parking lot, just 40 feet from a jet fuel tank farm.  Nantucket Memorial Airport's Twitter account tweeted an image of the damage.  Press Release. @InkyM @ACKCurrent @977ackfm pic.twitter.com/Nuwq6w054U — Nantucket Airport (@AirportACK) November 28, 2022 An investigation has been launched into the incident. Nantucket Fire Chief Michael Cranson has already determined that the blaze was not suspicious. Still, it's fueled a lot of conspiracy theories online.  Tyler Durden Wed, 11/30/2022 - 11:05.....»»

The passenger said Delta staff got "immediately got livid" after he refused to leave the plane until his wheelchair was delivered. Cory Lee was traveling from Santiago, Chile to Atlanta, Georgia, per The Independent.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images A passenger said Delta staff threatened him while he waited for his wheelchair to be brought to him. Cory Lee said he was told TSA staff with guns would arrive to remove him, per his Instagram post. Lee said he was eventually helped by a "very apologetic" member of the ground crew. A passenger said a Delta flight attendant told him the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) would "make him get off" a plane as he waited for his wheelchair.Georgia-based blogger, Cory Lee, made the comments in an Instagram post. He was traveling from Santiago, Chile, to Atlanta when he says airline staff refused to bring his wheelchair to the door of the plane, according to The Independent, which reported the news.Per the post, Lee said Delta staff "immediately got livid" after he refused to leave the plane until his wheelchair was delivered.At one point during a video he shared of the reported incident, a person that appeared to be a flight crew member can be heard saying that the TSA, who would have "all their guns and stuff," would make him "get off the aircraft." Lee said he had flown to the airport "hundreds of times" and staff had always brought his wheelchair to the door of the plane.  Lee's request fell under the Air Carrier Access Act, which he cited in the Instagram post. According to the act, airline staff are legally required to bring wheelchairs as close to the plane as possible and passengers are not required to get off until they do so.The blogger said he was eventually helped by a "very apologetic" member of the ground staff who found a way to bring his wheelchair to the plane door.A spokesperson for Delta told Insider: "The exchange in this video does not reflect the high standard of care Delta people aspire to every day. We are reviewing what occurred here and will follow up as appropriate with our people. Delta has reached out to this customer directly to hear more about what they experienced and to offer further apologies."This is not the first time wheelchair users have complained of mistreatment while flying.Many wheelchair users were caught up in the travel chaos last summer, reporting lost or damaged chairs and demeaning experiences while traveling.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»