Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

Federal Government Admits It’s Too Incompetent To Know Who Should Get Global Entry, Who Shouldn’t

by Gary Leff on September 10, 2020

Sep 10 2020

The federal government submitted false statements in court to defend terminating global entry applications for New Yorkers. Now the government said they just didn’t know what they were talking about when making the claims, rather than intentionally lying.

The real question here is whether’s it’s a bigger problem if the federal government lies to the courts, or if the people responsible for trusted traveler programs do not know what information they’re receiving, or what information they need, in order to determine eligibility?

Starting Monday, Europe Flights Will Again Be Allowed At Any U.S. Airport

by Gary Leff on September 9, 2020

Sep 09 2020

The U.S. currently only permits 15 airports to receive flights from Europe (including the U.K.), China, or Brazil. That’s because passengers arriving on flights from these places are supposed to be specially screened for Covid-19, since they along with Iran are deemed high risk areas. This policy will be lifted on Monday, September 14.

What It’s Like For Osama Bin Laden’s Niece To Go Through Airport Security

by Gary Leff on September 6, 2020

Sep 06 2020

Noor Bin Ladin, who spells her last name with an ‘i’ rather than an ‘e’, was born in Switzerland. Her mother, a Swiss citizen, left her father in Saudi Arabia and raised her family in Europe. Bin Ladin spends much of her time in the United States and shared what airport security is like.

In 10 States You Can Now Sue If TSA Screeners Intentionally Hurt You

by Gary Leff on September 1, 2020

Sep 01 2020

As a result of the ruling, you can now sue TSA for any intentional battery they may inflict on you as a passenger in the states of Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. They join Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands) in recognizing this right of redress.

In the 11th Circuit states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia you cannot sue under the 2014 decision in Jonathan Corbett v. TSA. Increasingly then we’re seeing a circuit split, making it possible that the Supreme Court may someday rule on TSA-imposed beatings and sovereign immunity.

Europe Will Protect Incumbent Airlines From Competiton At Its Airports Through Winter

by Gary Leff on August 28, 2020

Aug 28 2020

Europe has reversed course and announced an intention to protect incumbent airlines from competition at its airports at least through winter. Immediately after the company that coordinates takeoff and landing slots for 46 airports warned airlines that they were going to have to use their slots in the U.K. and Europe or lose them this winter, the European Commission introduced a proposed regulation to extend the waivers. I take it then that Airport Coordination Limited’s warning was more political pressure than prediction.

One Man Lives – And Farms – In The Middle Of Tokyo Narita Airport

by Gary Leff on August 23, 2020

Aug 23 2020

Toyko Narita airport was built on top of former farming villages, despite local opposition, backed by the Communist and Social Democratic parties, known as the Sanrizuka Struggle. While land for the airport was initially acquired voluntarily from its owners, by 1971 the Japanese government began expropriating property.

Opposition clashed with construction workers and police, leading to deaths and mass arrests. Over 500 guerrilla actions have taken place against Narita airport since its opening in 1978.

In Hong Kong, Morning Airport Arrivals Take Less Than An Hour From Landing To Negative Covid Test (Don’t Show Up In Afternoon)

by Gary Leff on August 22, 2020

Aug 22 2020

Back in May the process for entering Hong Kong was one of the most excruciating things I’ve seen in travel, taking the better part of a day. It involved being bused to the EXPO Center, long waits for testing and results, and receiving a monitoring bracelet.

While transit has opened up in some cases, the process for actually entering Hong Kong is still stringent – but has been substantially streamlined.

Pennsylvania’s ‘Airport For No One’ Can’t Fill Eight Seat Planes, Wants United Express Regional Jets

by Gary Leff on August 22, 2020

Aug 22 2020

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named the late John Murtha one of the most corrupt members of Congress, in part for earmarking government money for campaign contributors. His legacy, though, is the John Murtha Johnstown–Cambria County Airport, the ‘airport for no one’ which – before the Covid-19 pandemic – saw an average of 17 passengers per day.

The airport wants to kick out the incumbent airline and bring in SkyWest – which promises 50 seat regional jets to Chicago and Washington, DC.

Woman Throws Water On TSA, Rushes The Checkpoint, And Makes A Break For The Airport Train

by Gary Leff on August 21, 2020

Aug 21 2020

Around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening a woman approached TSA screening at Pittsburgh airport, through water on a TSA employee when asked for her ID, and then ran through the checkpoint.

Police rushed her and subdued her. She broke free, “started fighting with them and ran for the airport train” but was detained again.

Driver Crashes Onto Portland Airport, Heads Under Plane To Evade Police

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2020

Aug 19 2020

A 24 year old man crashed his car through a perimeter gate at the Portland airport on Sunday. His wife and two children were in the vehicle with him. He told police they were being chased by trucks, and wound up on the airport grounds as an evasive maneuver.

Then the man took off, with one of his kids in tow, and drove underneath the wing of a taxiing commercial flight. There’s video of the arrest.