Travel

The Federal Aviation Administration is set to delay certification of Boeing's 737 MAX 10 after a newly discovered software glitch, the Wall Street Journal reports. The setback pushes back approval of the largest variant of the MAX family, adding to Boeing's long-running certification troubles and raising fresh questions about the plane's entry into airline service.

Elon Musk, in a new interview with CCTV Finance, said he recommends people visit China as much as they can, citing the country's many attractions. He praised his experience taking the bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an, calling it great and noting the quality of the train stations. His warm remarks about China are drawing wide attention and debate online.

Alaska Air Group is counting on stronger demand for premium travel to lift earnings as higher fuel costs squeeze its margins, according to a report from broadcaster KFGO. The airline's strategy leans on passengers paying for upgraded seats and services, a trend that has supported other carriers. The report highlights the tension between rising operating expenses and airlines' efforts to protect profitability through higher-yielding cabin products.

A member of the Herlev photo club in Denmark shared a street photograph taken in Rome, near the Vatican, captioned with the Ukrainian slogan 'Slava Ukraini' (Glory to Ukraine). The image ties travel photography to continued public expressions of support for Ukraine, a gesture that still resonates widely among European audiences more than two years into the war.

Long Lake, which describes itself as the world's first AI holding company, has completed its $6.3 billion acquisition of American Express Global Business Travel. The deal places a major corporate travel management provider under an AI-focused holding company, and the announcement is drawing attention as a notable example of AI-centered firms acquiring established travel businesses.

AAA says rising fuel prices could make holiday travel more expensive in Florida, with motorists likely to face higher costs at the pump as they take year-end trips. The auto club's warning comes as travelers finalize plans, and it suggests budgeting extra for gas even if other holiday expenses hold steady.

A trekker has returned from Nepal's Annapurna Circuit, which was closed because of landslides and heavy snowfall. Sharing pictures from the Ghermu to Dharapani stretch, taken when the rain briefly stopped, they describe a day of waterfalls and scenic views along the valley route. The trail closure has left hikers recounting dramatic conditions in the region.

Hilton is framing 2027 as the year travellers stop chasing the flawless trip. The hotel group's message suggests a shift away from perfectionism in travel planning, with guests expected to prioritise flexibility and realistic expectations over curated, ideal getaways. The claim comes via a news item reported by CoStar, and response or further detail from the company is not yet available.

Alaska Airlines has unveiled a sweeping redesign of its premium cabins as it moves to compete in the increasingly crowded market for high-end air travel. The overhaul signals the carrier's push to attract affluent flyers willing to pay more for upgraded seats and service. Details of the plan were reported by CNBC, drawing attention across the travel industry.

Travel experts warn that the fall shoulder season, traditionally the cheapest time to fly and book hotels, could bring higher prices this year. Travellers who usually count on post-summer discounts may find fewer deals as demand stays strong and airfares remain elevated. The advice circulating is to book earlier than usual and stay flexible with dates and destinations.

The Points Guy, the travel rewards outlet founded by Brian Kelly, says the biggest mistake beginners make with travel rewards cards is failing to understand how to use points and perks before signing up, leading people to carry cards whose value they never capture. New cardholders are being advised to learn redemption basics and match a card to their actual spending and travel habits rather than chasing sign-up bonuses alone.

A travel forecast has been issued for September 29, 2026, offering an outlook on travel conditions for that date. The forecast appears under a travel news label for a global audience. No further details about destinations, disruptions, or expected conditions are available in the headline material, so the substance of the forecast remains unspecified.

Alaska Air Group has entered the activation phase of its Alaska Accelerate plan, a strategy aimed at transforming the carrier into a more global, premium and diversified airline. The announcement outlines the next stage of the company's growth push, building on its expansion beyond its traditional West Coast base. Details of specific initiatives, timelines and investment figures were not included in the initial statement.

Lola, a travel technology company backed by Booking Holdings, has introduced a membership model for its AI-powered assistant that helps travelers book trips and experiences. The move signals a shift toward subscription-based access for AI travel planning services. Industry observers are watching how corporate travel customers respond to paying recurring fees for AI-driven booking and itinerary support.

With holiday travel prices climbing, CBS News is sharing practical tips to help travelers cut costs. The guidance comes as airfares, hotels and other seasonal expenses rise ahead of the busy end-of-year period, prompting many to look for ways to book cheaper flights, time their purchases wisely and trim overall trip spending.

Booking.com has introduced Lola, a new AI-powered travel agent designed to help users plan and book trips. The announcement puts the online travel giant in line with a wider industry push to add conversational AI assistants to travel search and booking. Details on Lola's features and rollout remain limited so far.

Russian air travel declined over the summer as daily Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted flights and forced repeated airport closures across the country. The drop in passenger numbers highlights how the escalating drone campaign has affected Russian aviation, with airports in major cities temporarily halting operations during strikes, leaving travelers facing cancellations and delays.

A new report highlights that older Americans are increasingly determined to keep traveling well into retirement, but practical challenges are making it harder. Issues such as mobility limits, health concerns, rising costs and fewer accessible services are complicating trips that this age group once took for granted. The piece explores how seniors and the travel industry are adapting to an aging population that refuses to stay home.

TravelPulse has published a roundup of seven cities that are driving the current surge in business travel. The piece highlights destinations seeing rising corporate demand as companies resume in-person meetings, conferences and events. The specific cities named are not detailed in the available coverage, so it is unclear which destinations made the list or what factors put them ahead.

Parents and educators are debating whether it is acceptable to take children out of school for family vacations. The Washington Post weighs in on the question, noting the answers can be controversial: some argue travel offers valuable learning experiences, while teachers and schools point to disrupted lessons and lost instruction time. The debate touches on attendance policies, fines in some districts, and the rising cost of travel during school holidays.

President Trump is planning an intensive travel schedule ahead of the midterm elections, which analysts read as a sign of how worried Republicans are about their prospects. One adviser described the urgency as 'on a scale of 1 to 10, 10', suggesting the party sees key races as genuinely at risk and is deploying its biggest asset to shore up support.

The co-founders of travel search company Kayak have launched a new AI-powered travel website that aims to handle trip planning beyond flights. The service targets travelers who book their own flights but want automated help with the rest of the itinerary, including accommodations and activities. The launch draws attention because of the founders' track record with Kayak and growing interest in AI travel assistants.

The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for a popular European destination, urging American travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting. Level 2 advisories are a mid-tier warning, below 'Reconsider Travel' but above standard guidance, and typically cite risks such as crime, terrorism, or civil unrest. Travelers are advised to review the advisory details before booking trips, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and monitor local conditions while abroad.

Travel site SmarterTravel is offering advice for booking Thanksgiving trips, publishing a guide of pro tips aimed at helping travelers save money and avoid stress. With Thanksgiving approaching, readers are looking for the best timing and strategies to book flights and accommodations before prices climb during the busy holiday travel season.

The New York Times is highlighting ways to explore Ireland without driving, pointing travelers toward public transport and car-free itineraries across the country. The piece speaks to growing interest in slower, more sustainable travel, and to practical concerns about renting cars and navigating narrow rural roads. Readers are weighing how realistic it is to reach Ireland's countryside, coastlines and smaller towns relying only on trains and buses.

Hospitality Net has published a piece outlining eight common mistakes that cause hotel and travel technology providers to lose sales opportunities even before holding an initial call with a prospective client. The article is aimed at vendors in the hospitality tech sector, offering insight into how early missteps in positioning, communication and preparation can quietly kill deals in a competitive market.

The founder of Instinct said that more than 50% of transactions on the platform are travel-related, according to TechCrunch. The figure suggests travel spending has become the dominant use case among the platform's users. No further details on transaction volumes, growth trends or the timeframe were given in the report.

Holiday shopping and travel spending are expected to reach record highs this season, with Americans forecast to spend more on gifts and trips than in any previous year despite ongoing concerns about prices. The projections point to strong consumer demand heading into the holidays, with retailers and the travel industry preparing for a busy season.

Alaska Airlines is adding a premium economy cabin and expanding business class seating as it works to narrow the gap with American, Delta and United. The move, reported by Skift, signals the carrier's ambition to compete more directly with the largest US airlines for higher-paying travelers. Industry observers are weighing whether the premium push can help Alaska close the experience and revenue gap with the Big 3.

A new travel center located off Interstate 29 in north Fargo is expected to open in mid-October, according to a report from local news outlet InForum. The development will serve travelers along the busy interstate corridor in the north part of the city. Details about the operator, size, and services offered at the facility have not yet been announced.

A Newsweek commentary argues that travellers and travel businesses now face two distinct challenges in the age of AI: first getting artificial intelligence tools such as chatbots and recommendation engines to surface their content or services, and then converting that visibility into actual bookings. The piece suggests that appearing in AI-generated answers is only the starting point, with the harder work lying in turning that attention into real travel decisions.

Travel industry publication Skift reports that Europe has become the key testing ground for artificial intelligence in travel, because the continent's many languages, national rail and airline systems, and differing regulations make cross-border journeys the hardest case for AI trip planning and booking tools. If AI assistants can handle a multi-country European trip, the argument goes, they can work anywhere.

Euronews is hosting its Travel & Tourism Summit live, where a speaker described a European country as having once been 'the North Korea of Europe' — a reference to a period of isolation from mass tourism. The remark is drawing attention as industry figures debate how formerly closed destinations have reopened and transformed their tourism sectors.