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The U.S. Transportation Department announced a $50 million fine Wednesday against American Airlines over allegations it mistreated passengers with disabilities, which the department said in some cases caused injuries. “They repeatedly failed to provide prompt wheelchair assistance, and they damaged thousands of passengers’ wheelchairs, which left passengers without the device they need to live their life fully,” he said. American Airlines may not be alone in violations of laws that protect travelers with disabilities. Buttigieg said there are investigations into other airlines, although he said that “American Airlines appear to be one of the worst offenders.”“The problems that we have uncovered in our investigation are not confined to one airline,” Buttigieg said. American said last year that it transported more than 146,000 wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, “, ”, Julie Rath, Buttigieg Organizations: U.S . Transportation Department, American Airlines, Transportation, Transportation Department, Airlines, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Locations: Delta, Southwest

☆ Get ready for a dockworker strike that could disrupt everything from medicine to holiday gifts
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewA major maritime workers strike is looming, and it could mean a shutdown of key goods — from cars to food — across the East and Gulf Coasts. AdvertisementA strike would have widespread implications across the US, with significant shipment delays that could set off a chain reaction of disruptions. Advertisement"We are coordinating with partners across the supply chain to prepare for any potential impacts," Steve Burns, a PANYNJ spokesperson, told BI. She referred to estimates from Sea-Intelligence, which predicted that a strike would prevent 74,000 shipping containers from being unloaded each day. "Throughout the pandemic, Longshore workers never took a day off," ILA Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett said on September 20.

Persons: —, Harold Daggett, Abe Eshkenazi, USMX, Mia Ginter, Robinson, Ginter, Bethann Rooney, Jonathan Gold, Mitre, Steve Burns, Grace Zwemmer, Biden, Dennis Daggett Organizations: Service, Gulf Coasts, Longshoreman's Association, Business, ILA, Association for Supply Chain Management, National Association of Manufacturers, United States Maritime Alliance, Port Authority of New, National Retail, New Jersey, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Oxford Economics, Intelligence Locations: East, Gulf, Gulf Coast, East Coast, Port Authority of New York, New Jersey, West Coast, New York, New, Houston

☆ China-Mexico freight traffic surges in Trump, Biden tariff era, as companies find ways to evade U.S. trade war
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty ImagesNew data shows a surge in trade between China and Mexico at a time of tough tariff talk during the presidential campaign. This nearshoring of manufacturing enables companies to change a product's origin of goods, also referred to as the "economic nationality" of a product. Data from freight analytics firm Xeneta shows China to Mexico container trade up by 26.2% from January to July 2024, after growing by 33% in 2023. Mexico is also a member of the Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc formed by Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. "Bilateral tariffs should be expected to lead to trade diversion, and that's exactly what happened in the aftermath of the trade war.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, Jordan Dethwart, Mary Lovely, Anthony Solomon, Simon Cohen, Peter Sand, Donald Trump, Trump, John Piatek, Biden, Piatek, Lovely, Moody's, Elon Musk, Musk, Tesla, Sand, Charles Van der Steene, Van der, Mexico —, Freightos, Erica York, York, Tim Robertson, Ian Arroyo, Arroyo, Saul Loeb Organizations: El, El Paso Sector, AFP, Getty, U.S, Companies, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Henco Logistics, European Union, European Free Trade Area, Pacific Partnership, Pacific Alliance, GEP, Motive, BMW, Ford, GM, Kia, gigafactory, Volvo, Pirelli, Michelin North America, Hyundai, SFK USA, Maersk, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, CNBC, United, Pacific, Port, U.S ., ITS Logistics, Tax, DHL Global, Dana, Afp Locations: El Paso, Mexico, New Mexico, Chihuahua, Sunland Park , New Mexico, China, Redwood Mexico, United States, Canada, U.S, Japan, Israel, Latin America, Chile, Colombia, Peru, USA, propping, Laredo , Texas, El Paso , Houston, San Diego, Monterrey, Fremont , California, Austin , Texas, Americas, Mexican, Monterrey . Mexico, East, lading, Maersk North America, Tijuana, El Paso , Texas, Pacific Coast Port, Lazaro, Laredo, Monterrey , California, U.S . West, U.S . East, Gulf, West Coast, Asia, Mexico City, Warren , Michigan

☆ Las Vegas transit system is nation's first to plan full deployment of AI surveillance system for weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Kevin Williams | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Las Vegas Review-journal | Tribune News Service | Getty ImagesOn your next visit to Vegas, an extra set of eyes will be watching you if you decide to hop onto the local transit system. Violent crime on transit systems, specifically, remains an issue in major metro areas, with a report released in late 2023 by the Department of Transportation detailing concerns from transit agency officials around the U.S. about rising violence on their transit systems. Atteberry stressed that the ZeroEyes system is not designed to detect lawful, legal firearms that might be in a holster or packed in a purse. "AI technology comes from the data; if we do not capture the data, there is no successful AI," Dei said. ZeroEyesThe Las Vegas transit system is not the only in the nation to use ZeroEyes, but is the first to plan full deployment.

Persons: Tom Atteberry, Brian Miller, Miller, Stephen Paddock, Sam Alaimo, Alaimo, ZeroEyes, Wei Dai, Dei, Paul Gratton Jr, Gratton, Michael Hasse, Hasse, there's, Atteberry Organizations: Regional Transportation, Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Tribune, Service, Regional Transportation Commission, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Purdue University Northwest, Zero, Purdue Northwest's Department of Computer Science, Seattle, Purdue Northwest, SEPTA, NYPD, TSA, Systems Locations: Las Vegas, Vegas, Southern Nevada, Hammond , Indiana, Nevada, Lafayette , Louisiana, Clark County , Nevada

☆ Travelers could see higher fares, fewer available seats as Airbus cuts number of planes it expects to make this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Airbus cut its target for how many planes it expects to make this year and next, citing supply chain issues. The tighter-than-expected supply of jets is forcing airlines to adjust their expansion plans, even as they deal with record demand for air travel. That means that passengers could find fewer available seats and fares that are higher than they would be otherwise. But airlines that use Airbus planes have not been without problems, as a number of A320neo jets have been grounded due to problems with their engines. Airfares were down 13% to nearly 19% from those 2022 peaks during the summer travel months last year, as the number of available seats on planes rose by about 15% from a year earlier.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Airbus, Boeing, Max Alaska Air, Monday Airbus, TSA, Consumer, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Locations: New York, Paris

☆ US flight prices are over $200 cheaper than they were 30 years ago when adjusting for inflation. Here's why it doesn't feel like it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

But if you ask some Americans, airfares have gotten out of control in recent years. Keyes said international inflation-adjusted airfares for US passengers have also generally fallen over the past decade. To be sure, any frustrations about airfare prices haven't stopped many Americans from flying. "The decline in inflation-adjusted airfares appears to be uncorrelated with the financial performance of the 'big three' airlines," Tan said. AdvertisementIt's also possible that after airfare prices plummeted due to the pandemic, 2022's swift rise in airfares caught Americans off guard.

Persons: —, airfares, Scott Keyes, Mike Daher, It's, Keyes, Biden, Kerry Tan, they've, haven't, Tan, Tan, there's, airfare, Hayley Berg, Hopper's, NerdWallet Organizations: Service, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Business, Deloitte, Gallup, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Department of Transportation, TSA, Loyola University Maryland, Delta, of Transportation, Airlines for America, Southwest, Spirit, United, Biden Administration, The Airlines Locations: United, America

☆ As the US braces for another summer of travel chaos, this Japanese airport hasn't lost a single bag in its 30-year history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kansai International Airport in Japan says it hasn't lost a bag since it opened in 1994. Last month, Kansai International Airport, in Osaka, won the Skytrax award for the World's Best Airport for Baggage Delivery. Kansai International Airport first opened in 1994, and estimates that it serves 28 million passengers a year. AdvertisementIn 2022, a total of 2.987 million bags were mishandled on domestic flights in the US, BTS data shows. Next year, Kansai International Airport will deal with an influx of visitors for the six-month-long Expo 2025.

Persons: hasn't, —, it's Organizations: Kansai International Airport, Skytrax, Service, World's, Kansai International, Nikkei Asia, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Apple, Nikkei Locations: Japan, Osaka, Nikkei Asia

☆ San Francisco sues Oakland to stop it from changing the name of its airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Jeffrey Kopp | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

San Francisco CNN —San Francisco is suing its neighbor across the Bay over a plan to change the name of Oakland’s airport. “People do not know that Oakland is by the San Francisco Bay. San Francisco filed suit in federal court Thursday, requesting the court prohibit Oakland from using the name, alleging that Oakland plans to “intentionally and knowingly capitalize off of confusion.”The City of San Francisco owns a trademark on “San Francisco International Airport,” commonly referred to by its three-letter code, SFO. It does not need the same San Francisco as part of its airport to stand out,” she penned in a letter to the Port of Oakland. We will vigorously defend our right to claim our spot on the San Francisco Bay.

Persons: San Francisco CNN —, ”, Danny Wan, San Francisco, “, Oakland ‘, San, Wan, Mary Richardson, OAK’s Organizations: San Francisco CNN, Oakland International, “ San Francisco Bay, International, Port, Oakland, San, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, CNN, Azores Airlines, United Airlines, SFO, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Oakland’s Locations: San, San Francisco CNN — San Francisco, Oakland’s, “ San Francisco, Port of Oakland, San Francisco Bay, City, San Francisco, “, Oakland, Terceira, Portuguese, Port

☆ Baltimore’s Port Handled a Record Amount of Cargo Last Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Jenny Gross | More About Jenny Gross | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The port handled a record amount of cargo last year, making it the 20th biggest port in the nation ranked by total tons, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Around the world, about 40 ships, including 34 cargo vessels, have Baltimore listed as a destination, including 10 commercial ships with anchors dropped in nearby waters, according to MarineTraffic, which tracks ships. The arrival of large container ships to the port “continues to demonstrate Baltimore’s capabilities of handling supersized vessels,” Governor Moore said in the statement. The port handled nearly 850,000 cars and light trucks last year, more than in any other U.S. port for the past 13 years. It was the ninth-busiest port in the nation last year for receiving foreign cargo, in terms of volume and value.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Wes Moore, Georgios Hatzimanolis, ”, Dali, Governor Moore Organizations: Port, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Gov, Maryland Port Administration, Cruise Line Locations: Port of Baltimore, United States, Maryland, Baltimore, New Jersey, North Carolina, Baltimore’s, State

☆ United Airlines is the latest carrier to raise bag fees. Here's how much more you'll have to pay.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Using the airline's bag fee calculator, Business Insider found that the fee for a bag flying from New York City to Houston would be $40. For a second bag, the price rose from $45 if paid in advance online or $50 at the airport. Days before United's announcement, American Airlines raised its first and second checked bags to $40 and $45, respectively. Alaska Airlines passengers who booked after January 2 saw a $5 bump for their first two bags. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that airlines made nearly $5.5 billion in bag fees during the first nine months of 2023.

Organizations: United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, it's, Transportation Statistics Locations: New York City, Houston, It's

☆ American Airlines is raising checked-luggage prices
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Checking a bag on American Airlines will now cost you more than at every other major US airline. That’s as much as a 33% increase from what it previously cost on American Airlines: $30 for both methods. Flights within and between the United States, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands are all affected by the price increase. American has also hiked the price of a second checked bag to $45 (up from $40.) The price increase comes at a time when airlines are battling rising fuel and labor costs.

Persons: didn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, American Airlines, Flyers, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, of Transportation Statistics Locations: New York, That’s, United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America

☆ Why doesn’t the US have more passenger trains?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Today, the United States’ passenger rail system is an echo of its former self, with swathes of the network unused or surrendered to freight. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the Rail Passenger Service Act, which removed the requirement that private rail companies provide passenger service. Mike Segar/ReutersBut many American towns and cities have lost access to passenger trains. Can passenger trains make a comeback? A passenger rides an Amtrak train passing near the Pacific Ocean on November 9, 2021 near Oceanside, California.

Persons: you’ll, Biden, ”, Miguel Medina, JP Morgan, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Christian Wolmar, “, Yonah Freemark, Bing Guan, Freemark, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Harvey Weber, Paul Hammond, Hammond, Richard Nixon, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Mike Segar, Ulysses S, Grant, Al Drago, Joe Biden, ” Freemark, Robert Puentes, It’s, ” Puentes, Mario Tama, Brightline, Carline Jean, Tony Coscia Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Washington , D.C, Brightline, Miami, US Department of Transportation, du, Getty, Amtrak, US, Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Railroad, CNN, Bloomberg, United States Senate, Newsday, Colorado Railroad Museum, Rail, Service, Hall, Pennsylvania, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Washington DC, Eno Center for Transportation, Private, Las, Passengers, West Palm Beach, Fort, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tribune Locations: Europe, Asia, America, United States, Boston, Washington ,, Orlando, California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Swedish, Paris, AFP, France, Japan, China, Promontory Point , Utah, Compton , California, American, Levittown , New York, Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S, Indiana, Ohio, Baltimore, Baltimore , Maryland, Potomac, Delaware, Oceanside , California, South Florida, Las Vegas, West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, South

☆ Why the US kept Daylight Saving Time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Katia Hetter | Stephen Mays | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The current March to November system that the US follows began in 2007, but the concept of “saving daylight” is much older. Pro tip: It’s Daylight Saving Time, with singular use of “saving,” not “savings.”Reasons for Daylight Saving TimeDon't forget to reset your alarm clock. Jasmin Merdan/Moment RF/Getty ImagesThe US kept Daylight Saving Time permanent during most of World War II. Why do we need Daylight Saving TimeStudies over the last 25 years have shown the one-hour change disrupts body rhythms tuned to Earth’s rotation, adding fuel to the debate over whether having Daylight Saving Time in any form is a good idea. Although saving energy was often put out as a reason to have Daylight Saving Time, the energy saved isn’t much — if anything at all.

Persons: CNN — It’s, ”, Jasmin Merdan, Gallup, Richard Nixon, Florida’s Organizations: CNN, US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Getty, Studies, Daylight Locations: United States, Europe, ” Hawaii, Arizona, Pacific, Caribbean

☆ These are the most and least expensive U.S. airports to fly out of—JFK, LAX didn’t make either list
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

SmartAsset, a financial advisory website, compared data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to rank the average cost of a domestic flight departing from 72 major U.S. airports with more than 100,000 passengers. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska took the top spot on the list of most expensive airport to fly out of in the U.S. According to SmartAsset, the Alaska airport saw an 11.61% change in airfare from the first quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport serves over five million passengers annually. According to the airport's website, Ted Stevens Anchorage International is responsible for approximately 15,577 airport & community jobs, which equals one in 10 jobs in Anchorage, Alaska.

Persons: Ted Stevens, SmartAsset Organizations: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, International, International Airport Locations: Alaska, U.S, Anchorage , Alaska

☆ The first self-driving car fatality case put to rest who was responsible for killing a pedestrian. In this case, it was not the robot.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A woman behind the wheel of a self-driving Uber that hit a pedestrian has been in legal limbo ever since. The operator faced negligent homicide charges after a 2018 crash killed 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg. A guilty plea entered Friday offered an answer to the once-hypothetical ethics question of who is responsible when a self-driving car kills a pedestrian. Rafaela Vasquez, who was behind the wheel of a self-driving Uber SUV that struck and killed a pedestrian in March of 2018, pleaded guilty to endangerment related to the case, avoiding prison time. The victim, 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg, was the first known pedestrian fatality related to a fully autonomous vehicle crash.

Persons: Uber, Elaine Herzberg, Rafaela Vasquez, AP Vasquez, Joshua Brown of, carmakers Organizations: Morning, National Transportation, AP, New York Times, Tempe Police, of Transportation Locations: Maricopa County, Tempe , Arizona, Joshua Brown of Canton , Ohio

Boston Logan International Airport is currently under a ground stop due to thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. LaGuardia Airport in Queens was also under a ground stop due to thunderstorms, the FAA said. Weather conditions have also caused flight disruptions and a ground stop at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, it said on Twitter. John F. Kennedy International Airport is also under a ground stop. A passenger walks past a Delta Airlines plane at a gate at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., January 3, 2022.

Persons: “, John F, Brian Snyder, It’s Organizations: CNN, Nationwide, Boston Logan International, Federal Aviation Administration, LaGuardia, FAA, Twitter, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, Kennedy International, Delta Airlines, Logan International Airport, Newark, JFK, JetBlue, Sunday, United Airlines, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Locations: New York City, Boston, Queens, New, Newark, Boston , Massachusetts, U.S, New York

☆ Will the I-95 collapse in Philadelphia hurt the economy? Look at other cities for answers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —A section of northbound I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed Sunday after a tanker truck caught fire underneath the highway. I-95 is an important artery for not only the East Coast, but for regional transportation and commuters in Philadelphia. Another analysis by the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development and the transportation department found the economic loss was about $17 million in 2007 and $43 million in 2008. Morning commutesThe Philadelphia bridge collapse also brings up another question: How will commuters get to work? Advocates for public transport in Philadelphia look to Atlanta, when the Interstate-85 bridge collapsed in 2018 after a massive fire.

Persons: Tumar Alexander, ”, ” Alexander, Kristen Scudder, ” Scudder, Scudder, Scrudder, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, “ I’ve, Shapiro Organizations: New, New York CNN, Delaware, Regional Planning Commission, City, Philadelphia Office, Emergency Management, New Jersey Turnpike, of Transportation Statistics, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Transportation, state’s Department of Employment, Economic, Bureau, Transportation, Invest, Atlanta Regional Commission, Southeastern, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, “, Twitter, Federal Highway Administration, FHWA, Gov Locations: New York, Philadelphia, East Coast, City of Philadelphia, New Jersey, Memphis, Minneapolis, Minnesota, West Memphis , Arkansas, Atlanta, Southeastern Pennsylvania, Roosevelt, Northeast Philadelphia

☆ Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Elaine Glusac | The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +27 min

Illustration by Yukai Du Strikes, Delays and Lost Luggage: How to Survive Air Travel This Summer With the travel season in full swing, we compiled a guide to help you navigate the year’s most hectic time in the skies. If you don’t care which beach, shop around.” If you haven’t booked summer flights, do it now. For one, avoiding the airports with the highest levels of delays and cancellations last summer may be a good idea. They’re also getting longer inside airport lounges, longtime havens from the masses clogging the terminals at peak times. Standard membership in Priority Pass, a network of 1,300 airport lounges, starts at $99 a year, with each visit costing $35 at that level.

Persons: Yukai Du, we’ve, haven’t, Hopper, What’s, ”, Laura Lindsay, Ted Rossman, Priceline, Mr, Rossman, Charlotte Douglas, Toronto Pearson, it’s, “, Carter Langston, Rhonda Lawson, C.B.P, you’ve, you’re, You’ll, Lawson, Emmanuel Macron, Tomasz Pawliszyn, Jamie Larounis, Larounis, they’re, SITA —, They’re, Eric Goldmann of Atlanta Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Google, Miami, JetBlue, Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol, Gatwick, Air Canada, Labor, Newark Liberty International, La Guardia Airport, Kennedy Airport, Reagan, Miami International, Orlando International, Boston Logan International, Charlotte Douglas International, Toronto Pearson, Federal Aviation Administration, Washington , D.C, Customs, Western, Gulf, Phoenix, Transportation Security Administration, Global, Border Protection, Clear, PreCheck, Heathrow, Air, SNCF, U.S . State Department, Smart, Union, Travelers, New Tech, Airlines, Lufthansa, Siemens, Alaska Airlines, KLM, U.S . Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Apple, The Department of Transportation, American, Venture, Dallas Fort Worth International, JPMorgan Chase, Club, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Americas Locations: Europe, United States, Asia, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Fla, Miami, London, Amsterdam, U.S, La, New York, Washington, Charlotte, N.C, Newark, Orlando, Toronto, Sydney, Jakarta, Frankfurt, Munich, Heathrow, Washington ,, States, Denver, Seattle, Reno, Nev, Gulf Coast, Atlantic, Houston , New Orleans, Atlanta, Luton, T.S.A, ’, noncitizens, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Berlin, Dutch, Swiss, Delta, United, Hong Kong, Dallas, Boston, North, Central, South America, Dallas , Newark

☆ How U.S. airlines make $7 billion a year from checked bags
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. airlines had baggage fee revenue of more than $6.7 billion last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. American Airlines alone earned almost $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier's full-year revenue. For decades, most bags flew for free, but in recent years fees have surged, boosting the bottom line of the nation's carriers. U.S. carriers hauled more than 470 million passenger bags last year. So what steps do airlines take to prevent lost luggage and how does Delta Air Lines move 100,000 bags a day through the world's busiest airport?

☆ The incredible, Earth-saving electric bike is having a moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

And while electric cars get all the hype, a game-changing solution to getting around without warming the planet has flourished right under our noses. Electric cars are important, too, but they're expensive and far off for a lot of drivers, MacArthur said. The most popular electric vehicles in the US don't have a Tesla logoWhile electric cars get all the attention, e-bikes have for years been the best-selling electric vehicles in the US. Last year, Americans bought just over 800,000 electric cars, according to Kelley Blue Book, a record. Since e-bikes are much cheaper than electric cars, "you can get them into the hands of consumers faster," she said.

☆ America's Parking Addiction Hurts the Economy, Drives up Housing Costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Jeral Poskey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

A society committed to housing and feeding its people will ensure plenty of land is dedicated to homes and farms. According to the builder WGI, the average parking stall in the US costs $27,900 to build, more than the cost of many new compact cars. The money and resources dedicated to parking could be used for other purposes, but breaking our country's reliance on parking has been difficult. Parking accounted for about 27% of per-unit costs, regardless of whether the resident owned a car or not. Better transportation, better land use, better citiesEfforts are underway to finally rid America of its unhealthy devotion to parking.

The unplanned increase in inventories and elevated ratio to sales has reached levels consistent with previous slowdowns in the manufacturing and freight cycle in 2018/19, 2015/16 and 2008/09. The ISM manufacturing orders index tumbled to a low of just 42.5 (6th percentile for all months since 1980) in January before recovering slightly to 47.0 (11th percentile) in February. Chartbook: U.S. inventories and freightReduced ordering has sharply cut the volume of freight handled through U.S. container ports and carried on railroads and by trucking firms. The freight slump is consistent with previous slowdowns in the manufacturing and freight cycle and implies the manufacturing sector is already in recession (“Freight transportation services index”, BTS, March 8, 2023). Manufacturers’ difficulties stand in contrast to the resilience displayed by the much larger services sector, where spending, prices, margins and employment are still increasingly rapidly.

LONDON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Resurgent passenger aviation following the coronavirus pandemic has created shortages of jet fuel, pushing up airlines’ operating costs and fares. U.S. jet fuel inventories stood at just 36.5 million barrels on Feb. 10, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Chartbook: U.S. jet fuel inventoriesKerosene-type jet fuel is produced by similar refinery processes to diesel and other distillate fuel oils, but at higher quality specifications. But with shortages of both jet fuel and other middle distillates, the average price paid for jet fuel climbed to $3.37 per gallon ($142 per barrel) in 2022 up from $2.00 per gallon in 2019. With China lifting domestic and international travel restrictions, global consumption of jet fuel is set to rise sharply, which will stretch jet fuel supplies even further in 2023.

☆ How Southwest can win back its angry, stranded customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Southwest Airlines’ customers are furious about the company’s Christmas week service meltdown. Southwest said that it lost about $350 million in ticket sales for January and February because people have avoided bookings on the airline. No wonder: the holidays are perhaps the worst time of the year to strand customers. One group that has clearly not forgiven Southwest as of yet is airline investors. Southwest (LUV) shares closed Tuesday down only 1% from where they closed December 19, the day before the meltdown started.

Labor shortagesAs the pandemic swooped in, air travel was among the industries most affected, as more than 90% of flights were grounded. Today, labor shortages exist throughout the economy, but the problem drags on in the air travel sector, where more extensive employee training is usually required. Steven Senne / APOutdated technology and infrastructureThere is near-universal agreement that the infrastructure underpinning segments of America's air travel system is outdated and vulnerable. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Montana, said the incident highlighted "a huge vulnerability in our air transportation system." Air travel should be predictable and consistent, and you shouldn’t have to wonder if air traffic control is going to be working today as you head to the airport.

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