airport

Nov. 2 (UPI) — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that the government shutdown, now in its sixth week, would continue to cause flight delays, cancellations and closures amid air traffic control staffing shortages across the country.

“We will delay, we will cancel any kind of flights across the national airspace to make sure people are safe,” Duffy warned during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

Duffy ‘s comments came during a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport Sunday, which he said could spread to airports nationwide the longer the shutdown dragged on.

As few as 20 flights per hour were arriving at Newark late Sunday afternoon, local media reported. Delays averaged about two hours Sunday, but some flights were more than three hours late.

“There is a level of risk that gets injected into the system when we have a controller that’s doing two jobs instead of one,” he continued.

Nearly half of all major air traffic control centers are already facing staffing shortages across the country, which prompted a flurry of airport closures, ground stops or long flight delays, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA’s real time website shows Boston’s Logan Airport and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas closed Sunday, ground tops at Chicago’s O’Hare, and major ground delays at LAX in Los Angeles and the San Francisco International Airport.

Duffy warned during his Sunday interview that the situation could deteriorate still further as the shutdown continues.

“If the government doesn’t open in the next week or two, we’ll look back as these were the good old days, not the bad days,” he cautioned.

He said the administration is considering “pulling in whatever dollars we can” when asked whether there are other funding sources to pay the costs associated with air traffic control facilities and employees.

Federal law requires air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration, along with some other government employees, to work without pay during the duration of the shutdown.

“They have to make a decision,” Duffy said. “Do I go to work and not get a paycheck and not put food on the table, or do I drive for Uber or DoorDash or wait tables?”

Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers are working with no compensation amid the shutdown. Washington lawmakers are at an impasse of a GOP-led budget bill, which has failed a Senate vote a dozen times.

Democrats are holding out for an extension of Biden-era premium subsidies that make health insurance more affordable on the federal marketplace.

As a former airport employee, I attempted the viral travel hack that allows passengers to successfully get on the plane by showing up 35 minutes before boarding starts

Everyone loves a holiday, but going two to three hours early to the airport can lead to you waiting for hours until the departure time – and that’s not fun.

According to Hoppa, airlines advise passengers to show up at the airport at least three hours before their departing time for international flights or two hours before any domestic flights, to ensure a smooth check-in process, such as dropping off your luggage, and avoiding any potential queues in security.

Working at the airport made me realise that there’s no need to show up hours earlier at the airport. As excited as one can get to begin their holidays, the airport isn’t a place to hang out. If I can give you a tip now, it’s to make sure your electronics and liquids are packed accordingly.

But there’s a trick for those who want to skip the long waiting hours, and it’s called the ‘airport theory’ – but there’s a catch.

READ MORE: Air passengers warned packing viral flight snack in hand luggage could risk £5,000 fineREAD MORE: ‘I was a check-in agent at Heathrow – this trick guarantees a seat change free of charge’

What is the ‘airport theory’?

Earlier this year, a so-called ‘airport theory’ went viral on social media, where passengers showed up to the airport 35 minutes (or even 15 minutes on some occasions) before their flight started boarding. Yes, it works, but there’s a catch that a lot of people miss.

During my holidays in Spain, I showed up at the airport less than an hour before the flight departed. No bags to check in and a digital boarding pass, I went through security in under five minutes. Lucky me, I was familiar with the layout of the airport, and I had minutes to spare to grab a coffee before heading to the departure gate.

The catch is that this only works for those travellers who don’t have to check in any luggage. If you have a big-sized bag to send off, you must show up at the check-in counters before they close, which is usually an hour before the flight departure time.

READ MORE: Get airport luggage off the plane first thanks to worker’s ‘little-know’ technique

For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s also important to note that the waiting times at the airport can vary depending on the time of year. Therefore, it’s worth double-checking the status of your flight, as well as the distance between the security checkpoint and the gate.

Another secret from me is that if you ever show up late to the check-in counter and have a bag to drop, speak to an airline agent. In the majority of cases, the check-in agent will charge you a late drop-off fee to take your bag, which is better than leaving it behind!

Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!

Planning ahead of time could make your holiday much, much more affordable

Regardless of whether you’re planning a quick getaway this winter or later into next summer, you will more than likely be looking for ways to save some cash. Fortunately, one of the easiest ways to shave off money on your holiday is by cutting costs before you’ve even booked your flight.

A variety of things could factor into the upfront cost of your flight, such as what time you book it, what seats you get, and what time you plan on jetting off. However, more often than not, it’s always a good idea to book your flight in advance to save some cash.

Generally, it’s best to book your flight between three and nine months in advance to get the best price while also avoiding booking one last minute, as you may find your costs go up significantly.

Cheapest time to book flights

Your flight price may change significantly depending on what day of the week it is set to depart. According to data from Skyscanner, Fridays and Sundays are generally the most expensive days of the week to fly out of the country.

Meanwhile, Tuesdays are generally the cheapest day to book a flight. However, if you’re determined to have a weekend flight, it may be slightly cheaper to fly out on a Saturday instead of a Friday.

Different airport both departure and arrival

You may find that you save money signifiacntly by arriving at a different airport, generally the lesser popular one, according to Which?. This is because higher-traffic airports tend to be more expensive for arrival flights rather than smaller and quieter airports.

However, you may find that the cheaper airports will be a significantly longer distance away to your hotel than the closer, more expensive one. Overall, you should calculate how much transport to the hotel will cost you at both the different airports and compare that to how much you’ll save on your ticket to see if it’s a big enough saving to take the extra time commuting.

Avoid hidden extras

While budget airlines tend to provide a cheaper upfront ticket cost, you may find that costs will pile on from all the extras being offered, some of which you may believe were initially included in the upfront ticket price. For example, you may be charged extra for carrying any luggage that doesn’t fit under your seat – which may cost much more than you think.

While this is a common practice at airlines like Ryanair and easyJet, other airlines such as British Airways and Jet2 don’t commonly charge for cabin luggage but may have a higher upfront cost as a result.

Avoid airport rush hours

You may find that the cheapest time to depart from any given airport is in the early hours of the morning. You tend to be offered cheaper prices at this time as the airport will generally be less busy than the peak daytime hours.

Otherwise, if you’re not the type to wake up super early, you can still save some cash by departing in the later hours of the night. In fact, the industry tends to call flights heading out at this time red-eye flights and your itinerary may even have a red-eye logo which shows that your flight is heading off during this money-saving period.

Compare flights

If you want to quickly find the cheapest flight possible for any given location, it may be a good idea to use a comparison site such Skyscanner or Kayak can provide all the prices for flights heading to where you want go. Furthermore, many of these sites can allow you to add extras to help you better calculate your costs, such as adding a car hire or hotel. Many sites also allow you to add nearby airports so you can potentially save money by heading to the same area but a different, cheaper airport.

THE last major airport in the UK to allow free drop offs is set to scrap them completely.

London City Airport has said that it will bring in a fee for passenger drop offs “by the end of the year”.

According to bosses of the airport, the charge will help support sustainable transport goals.

The airport told The Independent: “The charge will help London City meet its wider sustainability goals by reducing the number of vehicles travelling to and from the airport, supporting efforts to lower congestion, reduce emissions and improve air quality in the surrounding area.”

Currently, 70 per cent of passengers at London City Airport use public transport to reach the airport – which includes the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).

Only 10 per cent of passengers then arrive by car – and around 14 per cent use taxis, minicabs or Ubers.

Read more on travel inspo

TAKE THE FALL

50 half term days out and Halloween specials which are FREE or under £5

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

Whilst a date or cost for the new charge hasn’t been revealed yet, other airports in the UK have fees of £6 to £7.

Blue badge holders will be exempt from the charge.

Rod Dennis, the RAC‘s senior policy advisor, added that for drivers this will be an “unwelcome watershed moment”.

He added: “Compared to many, London City has excellent public transport connections so arguably most people dropping off are only those that really need to.”

He also explained that this isn’t the usual practice elsewhere in Europe, with eight of the top 10 European airports still allowing drivers to drop off travellers for free.

Airports that have introduced a fee usually have a designated area to drop off passengers.

And they also normally have other ways of getting into the airport where you aren’t charged.

For example, via taking a shuttle bus or using walkways to get to the terminal.

However, this might not be introduced at London City Airport as there is limited space.

In terms of other London airports, Heathrow introduced a drop off fee of £6 back in 2021.

London Gatwick Airport also introduced its fee in 2021, but in comparison, it costs £7 for 10 minutes and then an additional £1 for each minute thereafter, up to 20 minutes.

The maximum daily charge is £27.

In 2009, London Luton Airport introduced a similar process with the first 10 minutes costing £7 and then each minute thereafter being an additional £1.

There is a maximum stay of 30 minutes.

London Stansted Airport introduced its fee in 2012 and drivers pay £7 for 15 minutes, or £25 for drop offs over 15 minutes.

Southend Airport was the latest airport to introduce a fee which took place over the summer and costs £7.

ROYAL FLEE

Beatrice & Eugenie quietly snuck out UK as Andrew was forced to quit Royal Lodge

OUR KID

TV legend, 72, looks unrecognisable with long grey beard – can you guess who?

In other airport news, Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey’s local airport was recently named the best in the UK – it beats London Heathrow and City by miles.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with a regional airport coming in number one.

AN ABANDONED UK airport that was set to re-open in 2027 has been hit by a £193million blow.

The site is also expected to make a loss for the first nine years, which is an increase from its previous estimate of five.

South Yorkshire council leaders and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, approved spending £160m of public money to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA).

Previous owners, Peel Group closed the airport in 2022 after it continued to make yearly losses.

But, Mayor Coppard said reopening the airport would support 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5bn and provide wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.

However, the projected cost of re-opening has now risen by nearly £50m to £193m, according to City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet.

TAKING OFF

The £4.5billion airport project that will make travelling to Disney World easier

NO FLY

Mystery drone sparks travel chaos at Brit holiday hotspot as flights grounded

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said the rising costs in the report set out the challenges and opportunities in a project “of this size and scale”.

She added that re-opening the airport was a massive undertaking but one that was “vital for the future prosperity, well-being and economic growth of the city, region and the country.”

She also stated: “The ambition is that the airport does become a success story for Doncaster and South Yorkshire.”

The report, however, says the £160m will only be released in annual instalments and will not cover all the start-up costs of the first few years.

Councillors will therefore need to approve a £57m bridging loan to get the airport up and running.

However, the papers also suggest there is a chance that costs may continue to spiral even further by 20 per cent.

This would put the overall reopening costs at £222m, and the papers say that if this takes place – closing DSA would need to be considered.

The report explains: “The profile of the additional costs and extent of the increases would impact on the borrowing costs; therefore, the consideration of the potential closure decision point would need to be regularly evaluated, and scenarios updated.”

According to the council papers, the airport is projected to make losses for the first nine years of operation (2026-2034) of £81.1m.

However, the council is predicting that from 2034 onwards the airport will start to make a profit, totalling £230m before tax and interest by 2049.

/

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority had already allocated £16.1m to the project, with City of Doncaster Council expected to provide further funding of £17.4m.

A South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority spokesperson told The Sun: “These numbers are not new, nor do they identify any new risks.

“We’ve always been very clear and upfront about the commercial and financial challenges we have taken on when committing to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and the need for public financial support for those plans in the medium term.

“That’s why we took extra time and undertook significant added due diligence before agreeing the MCA’s funding commitment in September.

“The figures released in the City of Doncaster Council’s papers remain in line with the funding envelope we set for the project at that point.

“The information in CDC’s papers has been made available because of that additional work, which helped us understand the risks and opportunities of reopening DSA.

“The extensive work we have undertaken makes clear that reopening DSA and creating a world leading sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub at Gateway East offers a unique opportunity for jobs and growth.

BENEFIT BOOST

Exact amount benefit payments will rise and how it will affect YOU explained

OUR GIRL IN LA

Inside Michelle Keegan’s Hollywood plans… & why Mark’s sweet promise is key

“We will remain diligent in the protection of taxpayers’ money as we pursue that opportunity, while recognising the risks and challenges we face developing a project of this size and scale. As we have been throughout, we will continue to be transparent and accountable throughout this process.”

The airport is expected to be fully operational with passenger flights, planned for summer 2028.

A small coastal town in the north of the UK boasts a unique claim to fame – it’s home to the world’s shortest street. Now the street and town have been cut off by the collapse of Eastern Airways

Commercial flights to one of the most remote airports in the country have been halted, effectively stranding the aviation hub.

UK domestic carrier Eastern Airways has suspended operations and cancelled all of its flights, delivering a major blow to the charming Scottish seaside town of Wick, which relied heavily on the airline for connectivity.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said customers of the airline, which operated regional routes from airports across the UK, are being urged not to travel to the airport, as flights will no longer be operating.

According to its website, destinations served by Eastern Airways included Aberdeen, Humberside, London Gatwick, Newquay, Teesside International and Wick. All of those airports continue to be served by other airlines—except Wick John O’Groats, which sits at the northernmost tip of mainland UK.

READ MORE: City ‘rivals Amsterdam’ with canals and nightlife and is ‘must visit’ in 2026READ MORE: Island 2 hours from UK that banned cars is one of ‘Europe’s most underrated’

The only other carrier listed on FlightRadar as serving Wick is Gama Aviation, a specialist business aviation company. Wick Airport declined to tell the Mirror whether any other airlines were currently operating there.

That likely means the remote airport—and the town beside it—are effectively cut off by air, a significant setback given the 15-hour train journey required to reach London from Wick, and the eight-hour trip to Glasgow.

It’s also a loss for visitors to the small town, a charming coastal spot brimming with dramatic scenery and maritime heritage.

Nestled in Caithness, Wick is an ancient Viking stronghold. Once Europe’s busiest herring harbour, this diminutive coastal community now attracts visitors from around the globe for its striking fortress ruins, rugged coastline, and abundant wildlife.

“Around three miles north of Wick, the dramatic 15th- to 17th-century ruins of Sinclair and Girnigoe castles rise steeply from a needle-thin promontory,” proclaims VisitScotland, the region’s official tourism organisation.

“There’s a scenic clifftop walk to the castle via Noss Head Lighthouse from the tiny fishing village of Staxigoe. Along the way, visitors can spot a wide variety of seabirds and puffins before reaching a beautiful beach at Sinclair Bay, popular for windsurfing and sand-yachting.”

Holidaymakers seeking something truly unique often visit Ebenezer Place, officially recognised as the world’s shortest street.

Measuring just 6ft 9in long (2.06m), the road is so small it holds only one address—Mackay’s Hotel’s No. 1 Bistro.

Beautifully located beside the Wick River, the restaurant serves dishes made with local produce, along with afternoon tea, cocktail masterclasses, and, naturally, whisky. In 2006, the street—maintained by Highland Council as the road authority—earned a Guinness World Record as the shortest street in the world.

“When Alexander Sinclair returned from America in 1883 after making his fortune, he built Mackay’s Hotel on the corner of Union Street and River Street,” the hotel’s website explains. “The council instructed him to name the short end of the building, as they considered it a separate street. Ebenezer Place subsequently appeared in town records from 1887.”

In an online statement, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), which owns Wick John O’Groats Airport, said: “HIAL was made aware via press coverage that Eastern Airways has filed for administration. We will work closely with The Highland Council, which manages the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route from Wick, previously operated by Eastern Airways. Wick John O’Groats Airport will continue to operate as normal, and passengers should contact the airline for information regarding booked flights.”

Eastern Airways customers are being urged to make alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail, or coach operators. On Monday morning, Eastern Airways (UK) Ltd filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator at the Insolvency and Companies Court, part of the High Court.

Selina Chadha, consumer and markets director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport, as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled. Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

DISNEY fans could soon be able to get to Disney World much more easily thanks to a massive airport project.

A 10-year plan has been approved for Orlando International Airport (MCO), estimated to cost around $6billion (£4.5billion).

Orlando Airport is the busiest in Florida, and one of the busiest in the whole country.

And the project comes after passenger numbers have increased at the airport over the past few years, with it handling 57.2million passengers in 2024.

The expansion will focus on four main areas: customer experience, community, infrastructure and people.

By 2030, the airport hopes to add 8,000 car parking spaces, complete the construction of a new baggage handling system for Terminals A and B, complete two gate expansions and add more passenger walkways and travellators in Terminal C.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

TAKE THE FALL

50 half term days out and Halloween specials which are FREE or under £5

Also by 2030, the airport would like to increase the number of small businesses working with them.

Then by 2035, the airport hopes to complete work on Terminal C.

The project will also see the terminals renamed by numbering them to make it easier for passengers.

As a part of the plans, the airport is working towards attaining a five star Skytrax rating too.

There will be one new cargo processing facility, an FAA-approved ‘vertiport’ for helicopters and restored stormwater structures, as well.

A video released showing the plans for the airport also implied that there will be facial recognition in the future, better flight information screens, smart restrooms, more shops and lounges and new play areas for families that will even have a theme park theme.

CEO of Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), Lance Lyttle, said: “This vision focuses and unites everything we do around one core purpose: delivering an exceptional experience for everyone who passes through our airports.

“We’re creating spaces that are more welcoming, efficient, and enjoyable, from the parking areas to the gate, so that every step of the journey feels seamless.”

According to Disney Tourist Blog, the “MCO badly needs modernisation and expansion, and we’re pleased to see that happening with this massive $6billion (£4.5billion) investment.

“That should greatly improve the arrival and departure experience, making for a better first and last impression with Walt Disney World guests.”

The blog added that the airport is usually very busy, with 30 minute queues.

But thanks to the new expansion, a lot of the issues should hopefully go away.

The expansion also comes after a number of new attractions have opened in Orlando, with more in the pipeline.

For example, Epic Universe at Universal Orlando opened in May of this year with a new Harry Potter land.

The £7billion land also has a ‘How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk’ land and a Super Nintendo World.

Walt Disney World is also investing $17billion (£12.7billion) over the next couple of decades, which includes a number of new rides.

FOOTBALLER GONE

Football League star tragically dies aged just 42 after cancer battle

CHA-CHA-CHAOS

Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence after pro Nikita pictured kissing her

In other aviation news, a major UK airport is getting a £30million upgrade – but could mean your late flight is cancelled.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with regional airport coming in at number one.

Oct. 27 (UPI) — A Delta Air Lines flight attendant inadvertently deployed the plane’s emergency slide, before departing Pittsburgh International Airport over the weekend, forcing passengers to rebook and costing the airline “as much as $200,000.”

Passengers, bound for Salt Lake City on the Airbus A220-300, were rebooked onto other flights Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“While the aircraft door was being opened, crew inadvertently deployed an emergency slide at the gate in PIT,” a Delta Air Lines spokesperson said in a statement. “As a result, customers on the return flight from PIT to SLC were rebooked on other Delta flights to their destination later that evening or the following morning.”

The expensive error could cost the airline “as much as $200,000” for passengers’ hotel accommodations and repacking the slide, which can cost $12,000, according to aviation website simplifying.com. Other industry sources put the cost to repack an emergency slide on Airbus A220 models between $50,000 and $100,000.

The flight attendant told passengers he had 26 years of flying experience and admitted he accidentally raised the door handle while arming the plane for departure, which triggered the emergency slide to inflate.

“He did apologize and was quite flustered, cited over the 26 years of career, it never happened,” one passenger said.

Emergency slides are built to fully deploy in seconds in order to get passengers to safety as quickly as possible. In this case, the slide deployed against the jet bridge. That left passengers trapped inside the plane for more than an hour as engineers worked to disassemble it.

A MAJOR UK airport will soon be upgrading its runway as part of its huge expansion plans.

Edinburgh Airport, which is Scotland‘s largest airport, will undergo a massive transformation starting with its runway being resurfaced.

The 1.5 mile runway will be resurfaced which will reduce the number of delays at the airport.

In addition to the resurfacing, all 1,200 runway lights will be replaced as well and new weather sensors will be installed.

The £30million project will be the first on the runway in nearly two decades.

To carry out the work on the runway, it will be closed for five months overnight, beginning November 2.

Read more on travel inspo

ALL IN

I found the best value all inclusive London hotel… just £55pp with free food & booze

TAKE THE FALL

50 half term days out and Halloween specials which are FREE or under £5

During this period, flights will not take off or land on the runway between 11:45pm and 5:45am everyday except Fridays and Saturdays.

The festive period between December 18 and January 4 will also be an exception.

Most passengers won’t be affected, as airlines have been contacted by the airport to alter their schedules.

However, airport officials have expressed that this might result in flights being diverted.

For example, if an aircraft is late in landing, it will be diverted.

Yet some might not even be able to take off if they are scheduled to land later than planned.

Chief communications officer at Edinburgh airport, Gordon Robertson, said: “If they (aircraft) are very late, they’re either not flying or going to Glasgow“.

He added to The Herald that airlines have had “lots of time to prepare”.

He said: “They will just have to manage, and there is a risk that we do have a lower overall demand.

“There is a risk we could lose some destinations or see significant reductions, but all we can do is give people lots of notice.”

Gordon Dewar, the interim COO, said: “This investment will completely resurface the runway, install new technology, and future proof the asset ahead of planned continued growth.

“It’s a significant investment in the airport infrastructure and is part of a record capital plan.”

Resurfacing the runway is part of Edinburgh Airport’s five-year expansion plan.

According to The Scotsman, the airport will add new aircraft stands and flight departure gates, as well as extending the terminal’s south-east pier.

And so far, spending on the project has increased from £52million last year to £80million.

FOOTBALLER GONE

Football League star tragically dies aged just 42 after cancer battle

CHA-CHA-CHAOS

Strictly’s Amber Davies breaks silence after pro Nikita pictured kissing her

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

In other travel news, a UK airport has started a massive £60million expansion ahead of new Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 flights.

Plus, the £25billion Heathrow plans that want to take on ‘world’s best airport’ with sixth new terminal.

DALLAS — A former aide to House Speaker Jim Wright made a substantial profit by selling his house to a businessman who had benefited from Wright’s work on behalf of a new Ft. Worth airport, a Dallas newspaper reported Sunday.

John P. Mack, who resigned last week as an aide to Wright, sold the house in May, 1987, for $13,000 above market value to Rex Ball, chairman of HTB Inc. of Oklahoma City, which was working on an airport project in Ft. Worth backed by Wright, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Deed records obtained by the newspaper showed that Ball paid Mack and his wife, Kim, $170,000 in cash for the house in Dumfries, Va. The same records showed that Ball sold the house six months later for $153,000–a $17,000 loss–and that a Virginia property appraiser valued the house at $156,000.

Bought Home for $259,000

Fifteen days after selling the Dumfries house, Mack and his wife purchased a new home in Annandale, Va., for $259,000 with a $200,000 mortgage.

The transaction came after Mack had asked House Appropriations Committee members in 1987 to guarantee $25 million in federal funding for Alliance Airport, which is being built in Ft. Worth by H. Ross Perot Jr., son of the billionaire founder of Electronic Data Systems.

Perot said Ball’s company handled some review work for the architectural plans at Alliance Airport, which is owned by the city of Ft. Worth and built on land donated by the Perot family. The Perot family hopes the airport will attract industries to build on nearby Perot-owned land.

The airport has received at least $31 million in federal funds for construction with the assistance of Wright, who is from Ft. Worth.

Refused to Pay Bill

The Morning News said Alliance Airport officials submitted a $60,000 bill in May, 1988, for work done by HTB, but Ft. Worth and Federal Aviation Administration officials refused to pay the bill because much of the work involved private property owned by the Perots.

City officials eventually authorized a $16,466 payment out of federal funds to the Oklahoma City firm.

A spokesman for Wright, who was accused by the House Ethics Committee of more than 60 violations of House ethics rules, said the Speaker had no knowledge of the transactions between Ball and Mack, who resigned from Wright’s office in the wake of renewed publicity over a conviction on a 1973 assault charge.

The ongoing government shutdown continues to disrupt flights at times and put pressure on air traffic controllers, who are working without pay.

On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia.

A day earlier, flights were delayed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, New Jersey’s Newark airport and Washington’s Reagan National Airport because of air traffic controller shortages. The number of flight delays for any reason nationwide surged to 6,158 Thursday after hovering around 4,000 a day earlier in the week, according to FlightAware.com.

Many FAA facilities are so critically short on controllers that just a few absences can cause disruptions, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that more air traffic controllers have been calling in sick since the shutdown began. Early on in the shutdown, there were a number of disruptions at airports across the country, but for the last couple of weeks there haven’t been as many problems.

Duffy said the disruptions and delays will only get worse next week after Tuesday’s payday arrives and “their paycheck is going to be a big fat zero.” He said controllers are telling him they are worried about how to pay their bills and frustrated with the shutdown.

“The stress level that our controllers are under right now, I think is unacceptable,” he said at a news conference Friday at Philadelphia International Airport.

The shutdown is having real consequences, as some students at the controller academy have decided to abandon the profession because they don’t want to work in a job they won’t be paid for, Duffy said.

That will only make it harder for the FAA to hire enough controllers to eliminate the shortage, since training takes years. He said that the government is only a week or two away from running out of money to pay students at the academy.

“We’re getting word back right now from our academy in Oklahoma City that some of our young controllers in the academy and some who have been given spots in the next class of the academy are bailing. They’re walking away,” Duffy said. “They’re asking themselves, ‘Why do I want to go into a profession where I could work hard and have the potential of not being paid for my services?’ ”

The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, joined Duffy. He said that some controllers have taken on second jobs delivering for DoorDash or driving for Uber to help them pay their bills.

“As this shutdown continues, and air traffic controllers are not paid for the vital work that they do day in and day out, that leads to an unnecessary distraction,” Daniels said. “They cannot be 100% focused on their jobs, which makes this system less safe. Every day that this shutdown continues, tomorrow we’ll be less safe than today.”

Airlines and airports across the country have started buying controllers meals and helping them connect with food banks and other services to get through the shutdown.

The greatest concern is for new controllers who might make less than $50,000, but even experienced controllers who make well over six figures while working six days a week may be living paycheck to paycheck without much cushion in their budgets. Daniels said it’s not fair that controllers are facing impossible choices about whether to pay for rent or child care or groceries.

Duffy has said that air traffic controllers who abuse their sick time during the shutdown could be fired.

Republicans and Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement to end the shutdown that began on Oct. 1. Democrats are demanding steps be taken to avoid soaring healthcare premiums for many Americans set to take effect under the GOP spending law adopted this summer. Republicans have said they will negotiate only after ending the shutdown.

The airlines and major unions across the industry have urged Congress to make a deal to end the shutdown.

Air Line Pilots Assn. President Capt. Jason Ambrosi said in a message to his members that he’s concerned about air traffic controllers and other federal employees.

“The safety of millions of passengers and tens of thousands of tons of cargo is in the hands of these workers. Worrying about how they’ll make their mortgage payment or pay for day care is an added stress they do not need,” Ambrosi said.

Democrats have called on Republicans to negotiate an end to the shutdown. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, put the onus on Democrats.

“Our aviation system has operated safely throughout the shutdown, but it’s putting an incredible and unnecessary strain on the system, and on our air traffic controllers, flight crews, and many other aviation professionals,” Graves said.

Funk writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Rio Yamat contributed to this report.

A MAJOR UK airport has been shut down after facing difficulties with one of its runways.

Flights were cancelled and planes grounded overnight with passengers encouraged to check with their airlines to see if their journey has been affected.

Leeds Bradford Airport is expected to remain closed to both departures and arrivals until 5am on Saturday.

Jet setters were warned that the closure could continue on longer.

The first flight out of the closed airport, a Jet2 service to Heraklion in Crete, is expected to leave shortly before 5:25am.

Flights due to land at Leeds Bradford Airport were diverted and sent to other UK airports in the wake of the runway issue.

JINGLE RAIL

The top Christmas train experiences around the UK including ‘journey of lights’

IN THE MED

Tiny Spanish city that’s actually in Africa with its own ‘House of the Dragons’

The busy airport usually operates for 24 hours a day but has been closed now until the issue can be adressed.

Staff at the airport are reportedly working at speed to fix the problem as soon as they can.

The team at Leeds Bradford Airport said that customer safety is their number on priority.

Disappointed holidaymakers can make contact with staff on the ground at terminals to ask any questions about their flights.

A statement on the airport’s website, posted at 10pm, reads: “Due to an unforeseen issue with the runway, we have had to take the decision to close the airport until the morning.

“Customers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight.

“We are working to resolve the disruption as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of the passengers travelling through our terminal is our number one priority.

“Our team is on the ground in the terminal to answer any customer queries regarding departures.”

Leeds Bradford Airport was granted planning permission to operate round the clock in 1994.

Dozens of flights take off and land at the busy midlands airport on a day-by-day basis.

According to the airport’s website there is a designated night-time flight period.

This lasts from 11pm to 7am every evening with only the quietest jets permitted to operate between these hours.

Here’s the full list of best to worst UK airports according to Which?

1. Exeter
2. Liverpool (John Lennon)
3. London City
4. Bournemouth
5. Newcastle
6. Norwich
7. Inverness
8. Cardiff
9. Southampton
10. Belfast City
11. East Midlands
12. Glasgow International
13. London Heathrow T5
14. Edinburgh
15. Leeds Bradford
16. Aberdeen
17. Birmingham
18. Bristol
19. London Gatwick North
20. London Heathrow T2
21. Belfast International
22. London Gatwick South
23. London Heathrow T4
24. London Heathrow T3
25. London Stansted
26. Manchester Terminal 2
27. London Luton
28. Manchester T1
29. Manchester T3

IT’S all change for tour operator TUI, which will operate flights for certain package holidays through a third-party rather than its own airline.

Next summer, TUI will fly holidaymakers to its destinations using other airlines like easyJet and Sun Express.

According to reports, TUI is dropping its direct flights from Manchester to Portugal‘s Faro and Bodrum in Turkey.

On TUI’s website, Sun Travel found that direct flights between Manchester and Faro can’t be booked after April 19, 2026 – with only four other flights available between now and then.

On its website, TUI is offering packages from Manchester to Portugal throughout the year and into 2026 with direct flights from easyJet.

YULE DO

Travel expert reveals cheap UK holiday parks with Xmas breaks from £9pp a night

CHRIMBO WIN

Enter these travel comps before Xmas to win £2k holidays, ski trips & spa stays

Package holidays from Manchester to Bodrum with TUI can be booked from May 2026 with flights from Sun Express.

Flights from regional airport Birmingham and Gatwick to Faro for next summer will also be operated by third-party airlines.

As a result TUI said it will be putting more capacity into destinations including Balearics, Italy, Greece and Croatia, with TUI Airlines.

Sun Travel has contacted TUI for comment.

In March, TUI Group CEO Sebastian Ebel said in an interview with the Financial Times that the it planned to sell more seats on other airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet in order to “generate growth”.

Earlier this year, the tour operator completely scrapped its flights from the UK to Costa Rica, St Lucia and Orlando.

The London Gatwick to Costa Rica route was scrapped in April 2025, and TUI’s St Lucia flights from London Gatwick stopped at the end of May.

TUI first launched flights to St Lucia from both London Gatwick and Manchester Airport in 2020.

Again, TUI still offers holiday packages to both St Lucia and Costa Rica, but flights will no longer be with TUI Airways.

TUI also scrapped its direct flight route from Birmingham to Orlando, which was axed in October 2025.

In other news, TUI has confirmed that it is in talks to return to Doncaster Sheffield Airport if it can open next year.

It was forced to shut back in 2022 due to financial difficulties, with TUI operating the last flight.

When it comes to airlines, TUI has said they could relaunch their flights – which once connected the airport to destinations including Alicante, Malaga and Tenerife.

TUI boss Neil Swanson said at the ABTA conference in Majorca: “Clearly that is something we are talking about.

“We were in there before, it is part of an ongoing discussion.”

JAB HACK

I’ve lost 6st in six months on Mounjaro & ‘cured’ the horrible side effect

CASH BOOST

Clever tools to help you find lost cash in time for Xmas – you could get £3,141

Plus, one of the world’s best airlines adds more flights from the UK to Brit-favourite winter sun destination.

And Europe’s best airline revealed and it has new cheap flights from the UK.

Airport officials were left facing a real ‘mystery’ after discovering a plane that had veered off the runway onto a patch of grass, and the pilot was nowhere to be seen

Airport officials were baffled to discover an abandonded plane “resting nose-down in the grass next to a runway” this week.

Bizarrely, the pilot was nowhere to be seen, and it became clear that the damaged plane, a small 1972 Cessna Skyhawk, had veered off the runway after having made a hard landing on Tuesday.

The empty Cessna N20392 was discovered at approximately 5am at Naples Municipal Airport in Florida, while the airport’s traffic control tower was closed from 10pm right up until 6am.

As staff were left to decipher the mystery, yet more questions emerged after security personnel reported spotting two people leaving the plane at the airport shortly after the plane landed right in the middle of the grassy field. They appeared to be unharmed.

READ MORE: Uganda bus crash: At least 63 killed in massive collision as buses ‘tried to overtake’

Airport communications director Robin King said, via FOX4: “We came in at about five o’clock this morning and realised we had an aircraft in the middle of the field. Our security released two people from the airfield overnight. They were fine. They walked away, and that’s really all we know.”

FlightAware data shows that the plane circled several times over Fort Myers and again in Naples before touching down at Naples Airport, in Florida, just after 2:40 am. An airport runway had to be shut down after the unexpected discovery was made; however, normal airport operations resumed after the disabled plane was removed from the field at approximately 6:30am.

In a separate interview with WINK News, King said: “It’s unusual. It’s really unusual, and it was a mystery.” The pilot has since been identified as 24-year-old Brianna Brown, who, as reported by Local 10, “returned around midday”, by which point the aircraft had been removed from the scene by a crew and placed in a hangar for inspection. Brown has since spoken with the Naples Police Department, as well as a member of the airport operations team.

Lt. Bryan McGinn, a spokesperson for the Naples Police Department, issued the following statement: “We have since learned that the pilot slid off the runway … the pilot stated they notified staff.”

According to King, it appears that Brown rented the plane, which she flew from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, in the Fort Lauderdale area. Police officers have since filed an incident report, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified by airport authorities. King said: “The FAA will be investigating. It’s totally out of our hands at this point, and so we’re going to find out why it happened.”

Brown, of Fort Lauderdale, wasn’t injured during the incident and is understood to be cooperating with the investigation. At the time of writing, it’s unclear whether or not Brown or the other person on board, who has not been identified, faces any charges.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at [email protected]

READ MORE: Aldi’s Jo Malone and Diptyque-style candles are back with savings of up to £350

TRIBE at Manchester Airport is the hotspot of both convenience and comfort for those travelling early or late. 

Here’s everything you need to know – from room rates to dining options at the hotel’s restaurant.

Where is the hotel?

Less than a 15 minute walk from all 3 of Manchester’s airport terminals, it is an attractive spot for holidaymakers flying very early or very late, making the start to your journey as relaxing as possible.

What is the hotel like?

This 412-room hotel boasts the title of Manchester’s largest, and is packed with a mixture of both football fans off to Old Trafford and vacationers when I visited last week.

The relaxing, contemporary and carefully curated vibe attests to the design-led comfort.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms are both comfortable and functional, following the same bright and trendy theme of the interiors throughout the hotel, it feels very metropolitan and classy.

Read more on hotel reviews

PIT STOP & SHOP

Mollie’s Motel & Diner, Oxfordshire hotel review

SUITE DEAL

Malmaison Birmingham hotel review

Each one has a TV, coffee machine, kettle, plentiful supplies of Kevin Murphy toiletries,  a hairdryer and a steamer instead of an iron.

With room sizes ranging from the TRIBE Essential to the TRIBE Extra, there is something for everyone.

Rooms available starting from £115 a night.

What is there to eat or drink there?

The restaurant is a bright, open space which offers an Italian-inspired menu.

The kitchen has a real pizza oven, while pasta dishes also feature heavily on the menu.

Other mains include sea bass, bavette steak, roast chicken and cheeseburgers.

If the menu doesn’t do it for you, The Ship is a lovely pub in Styal village ten minutes away, while tapas restaurant El Bosc next door also gets great reviews.

What else is there to do at the hotel?

Tribe is only a few minutes’ walk to the Metrolink network, which takes visitors to Old Trafford, the Etihad stadium and Manchester city centre.

Nearby Styal is home to the beautiful Quarry Bank Mill National Trust park. While Hale – home to dozens of Premier League footballers – is 15 minutes away.

Is the hotel family friendly?

Yes, the TRIBE is ideal for keeping the bigger families in order before a big holiday to avoid all the last minute panic.

Is the hotel accessible?

Yes, the hotel offers two different types of accessible rooms, the TRIBE Essential Accessible, and the TRIBE Atrium Accessible.

Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here.

Oct. 20 (UPI) — A Georgia man was arrested Monday inside a terminal at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after allegedly threatening on social media to “shoot it up.”

Atlanta Police arrested Billy Cagle, 49, at the airport and found an AR-15 assault rifle with 27 rounds of ammunition inside his pickup truck, which was parked at the airport, according to police chief Darin Schierbaum. Schierbaum said it was Cagle’s family who alerted officers that he had been making threats on social media and had a gun.

Cartersville Police Capt. Greg Sparacio told reporters the family alerted them Monday morning that the suspect was “en route to somewhere in the Atlanta area,” likely the airport, and he “had the intention to do harm to as many people as he could.”

The family provided information about the vehicle Cagle was traveling in, as well as a photo. Cagle was taken into custody after entering the airport terminal at 9:31 a.m. EDT. He did not have any weapons on him, but police found the rifle in his truck.

“I do believe he was likely to use that weapon inside the crowded terminal,” Schierbaum told reporters. “Because of the community — in this case, the family — as well as the joint collaboration of law enforcement, a tragedy was indeed averted.”

Cagle is facing multiple charges, including terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was convicted of possession of marijuana 20 years ago, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.

The fire gutted import cargo terminals areas at Dhaka airport, destroying an estimated $1bn of ‘urgent air shipments’.

A fire that decimated a cargo complex in Bangladesh’s largest airport has caused devastating losses to garment exporters during the peak export season.

The blaze – which ripped through the cargo import area of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday afternoon – gutted storage areas holding huge quantities of raw materials, apparel and product samples belonging to exporters.

“We have witnessed a devastating scene inside,” said Faisal Samad, director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

“The entire import section has been reduced to ashes,” he said, estimating losses could reach as high as $1bn.

Smoke continued to rise from the charred remains of the facility on Sunday as firefighters and airport officials assessed the damage.

Among the destroyed goods are “urgent air shipments”, including garments, raw materials, and product samples, added Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice-president of BGMEA.

He warned that the loss of samples could jeopardise future business in the country’s crucial garment industry, worth $47bn per year. “These samples are essential for securing new buyers and expanding orders. Losing them means our members may miss out on future opportunities,” he said.

Cause of blaze unclear

The airport cargo village that caught fire is one of Bangladesh’s busiest logistics hubs, handling more than 600 metric tons of dry cargo daily – a figure that doubles during the October to December peak season.

“Every day, around 200 to 250 factories send their products by air,” Khan said. “Given that scale, the financial impact is significant.”

The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined, and an investigation is under way.

The incident marks the third major fire reported in Bangladesh this week. A fire on Tuesday at a garment factory and an adjacent chemical warehouse in Dhaka killed at least 16 people and injured others. On Thursday, another burned down a seven-storey garment factory building in an export processing zone in Chittagong.

The government said the security services were investigating all incidents “thoroughly”, and warned that “any credible evidence of sabotage or arson will be met with a swift and resolute response.”

“No act of criminality or provocation will be allowed to disrupt public life or the political process,” it said, urging calm.

Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest exporter of apparel after China. The sector, which supplies major global retailers such as Walmart, H&M and the Gap, employs about four million workers and generates more than a tenth of the country’s GDP.

The fire is expected to delay shipments and pose additional challenges in meeting international delivery deadlines.

We paid half of what we were going to – and it was a nice way to end the holiday

Screaming kids and a four-hour delay. That’s what my boyfriend and I were faced with when we set foot in the airport last week – and after we decided to escape to the airport lounge no matter the cost, we were shocked that we were entitled to a discount, cutting the price in half.

Flying from Tenerife, we were due to land back home in Scotland at 11pm and instead arrived home at 4am – so it’s safe to say it was a heck of a delay. Thankfully, though, as my partner is a member of Monzo Premium, he got us a discount, and we had no idea it was a perk he was entitled to.

We were told the Montaña Roja VIP Lounge was €44 each, and whilst paying €88 seemed a lot, it was worth it. The last thing we needed was to end our holiday with parents ignoring their screaming kids, letting them run wild and screaming in people’s faces (I wish I was making that part up).

On top of that, airport chairs are not comfy enough for a three-hour wait – and that doesn’t even include waiting to board once we’re called to our gate. So how do you get the discount and how much did we end up paying?

How to get an airport lounge discount worldwide

We ended up paying a total of around £48, which brought it down to £24 each. Saving us half the price, we were delighted. We were given free WI-FI, access to showers (towels provided) as well as all-you-can-eat food and drink – including alcohol.

Explained on the Monzo Help page, the online-based bank revealed they have teamed up with LoungeKey to give anyone with Monzo Premium or Monzo Max discounted access to airport lounges worldwide.

It explained: “You and guests can access 1,100 airport lounges around the world for a flat fee of £24 per person, per visit. This rate includes Max Family, and you will need to pay per person, per visit.

“You are required to complete strong customer authentication (SCA) before visiting a lounge for the first time. You will only need to go through this process once, as subsequent transactions will be processed from your stored card on file.

“If you replace your card you will need to re-register the payment method and complete SCA again, this includes physically presenting your new card at the lounge the first time you intend to use it.”

Do you have to pre-book?

We didn’t book and instead just turned up, as it was never our plan to go to the lounge until we were faced with loud kids and a massive wait. Monzo explained that some lounges will allow you to pre-book before your visit.

Howeve,r if you go for this option, you will be charged at least £6 on top of your discounted price. It states this price is determined by the airport lounge and has nothing to do with Monzo.

It added: “If you visit on the day without pre-booking, you will just pay the discounted price of £24 per person, but this is dependent on whether the lounge has space.”

It is worth noting that Monzo says that customers will need to have their physical Monzo card with them for their first visit. We had ours with us, but were also able to give the staff the number on our card to get the benefit too.

So where are you planning on holidaying next – and will you be getting comfy in an airport lounge? Let us know in the comments.

NEW images have revealed what the world’s biggest airport will eventually look like.

Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Salman International Airport is set to surpass all other airports in size, including the current biggest airport in the world which is also in the country.

The 22sqm airport will feature six runways – up from two – parallel to each other and will be built around the existing King Khalid International Airport.

It will approximately be the same size as Manhattan in New York – or twice the size of the city of Bath, in the UK.

And now the airport has moved into its construction phase.

The airport will be designed by Foster + Partners, a UK firm which is behind London‘s famous Gherkin.

Read more on travel inspo

CHEAP BREAKS

UK’s best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks and pubs

TAKE THE FALL

50 half term days out and Halloween specials which are FREE or under £5

Inside, travellers will be able to explore 4.6sqm of shops.

A lot of features in the airport are set to include high tech, such as climate-controlled lighted.

Travellers will have plenty of seating, indoor and outdoor spaces with greenery and vast glass windows, ideal for a bit of plane spotting.

Foster + Partner’s is also developing the Wadi Loop, which will connect the airport to other developments allowing travellers to access different sites more easily.

The airport was announced back in 2022 and is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman‘s Saudi Vision 2030 – which is set to make Riyadh into a major hub for transport, trade and tourism.

It will eventually accommodate up to 120million passengers each year, which is then expected to rise to 185million by 2050.

And the number of aircraft takeoffs will rise from 211,000 per year to over one million.

In total, the project is estimated to cost around $30billion (£22.5billion).

Earlier this year, the existing airport revealed a newly-expanded terminal with 38 new check-in counters, 10 self-service kiosks, 26 passport control counters and 10 automated gates.

Terminal 1 also has 24 boarding gates, 40 passport control counters in the arrivals area and 11 self-service gates.

As a result of the expansion, Terminal 1 will be able to handle seven million passengers a year – up from three million.

Saudi Arabia is already home to the world’s largest airport – King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

The airport features a large mosque, landscaped gardens and a Royal Terminal dedicated for use of the Saudi royal family, government officials, and VIP guests.

NOT FINE

Warning to 5million drivers who risk LOSING their licence & £10k fine this October

THROUGH THE MILL

Shock twist for unlikely celeb couple Millie MacKintosh & Prof Green

In other airport news, one UK airport has started a massive £60million expansion ahead of new Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 flights.

Plus, these are the best and worst airports in the UK – with regional airport coming in number one.