Skift Take

In the coming months, more and more airports will ask to operate security outside of the TSA's purview. We're not certain this is a good idea, but we don't know what the alternative is.

What to Know Now

Things aren’t going well in the airlines, passenger, and TSA trinity this spring. In this year’s state of the TSA, Skift reported that the upcoming release of agents out into the field may not counteract the surge of passengers crashing against security checkpoints. Now, airports have stepped up their grousing with threats to abandon the TSA from the New York Port Authority while the senate is — well, raising a stink.

Meanwhile, field reports keep popping up showing crazy lines at airports across the country and passengers are stewing in anger.

It seems that we’re at the precipice of the pot boiling over but the question is: What’s going to break first?

Social Quote of the Day

My super power is I can tell when someone is in the TSA Precheck line but shouldn’t be.

@sorola | Gustavo Sorola, Co-Founder Rooster Teeth Productions

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Airlines

Passenger Satisfaction With U.S. Airlines Hits a 10-Year High: Flyers are more satisfied with their airline experience than they’ve been in the last decade, and its not just because fares have decreased, according to J.D. Power’s 2016 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Read more at Skift

A Slump in Direct Traffic Is Hurting Turkish Airlines: Turkey’s national airline reported the biggest loss since at least 1999 in the first quarter as geopolitical risks and security concerns pressured direct traffic into the country. Read more at Skift

When ‘Suspicious’ Activity on Flights Really Isn’t: Fliers are frequently reminded to “report suspicious activity” in prerecorded announcements at airports, but what qualifies as suspicious isn’t always clear. Read more at The New York Times

IATA Turns to Silicon Valley for Inspiration Into Air Travel Improvements: Leaders from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), with representatives of airlines and airline suppliers, recently visited Silicon Valley for a special Plug and Play event where they found fresh perspectives and inspiration to improve air travel. Read more at Skift

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Airports

U.S. Senators Say TSA Lines Would Be Shorter if Airlines Dropped Bag Fees: Two U.S. senators say one way to reduce long airport security lines this summer is for airlines to drop their fees on checking luggage. Read more at Skift

New London Mayor Clears Way for City Airport Expansion: Newly elected Mayor Sadiq Khan has dropped the Greater London Authority’s objection to London City Airport’s plan to purchase land it will need if its expansion plans are approved by the U.K. government later this year. Read more at Skift

The Case for Getting Rid of the TSA and Letting Airports Run Their Own Security: This spring, millions of Americans have learned to dread going to the airport. Read more at Skift

New York Airports Threaten to Remove TSA in Favor of Alternate Screeners: Like passengers, airlines, and other airports, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is responsible for New York City’s area airports, is tired of the security lines at its multiple terminals. Read more at Skift

HyperloopOne

Tech

Hyperloop One Showing Off Super-speed Propulsion Technology: A company that hopes to zip people and cargo through tubes at hundreds of miles per hour is showing off its propulsion system in North Las Vegas. Read more at Skift

New York City Uber Drivers Allowed to Organize, But Not Unionize: Uber Technologies Inc. agreed to start a guild for 35,000 drivers in New York that will help them negotiate with the ride-hailing company, though the group will have less power to resolve disputes than a full-fledged union. Read more at Skift

Wi-Fi at Hotels: The Battle Over Free Vs. Fee: In contrast to the challenges of other travel sectors, where Internet providers must deliver service aboard moving boats and airplanes, the hotel industry would seem to have it relatively easy when it comes to Wi-Fi. Connection options at the major hotel chains are improving significantly, with basically-free Internet service at virtually every major chain. Read more at Skift

Photographers Take Over the Hyatt

Hotels

Choice Hotels Formally Enters the Direct Booking Wars: Five days after Choice Hotels International CEO Stephen P. Joyce and CFO David White said the company would embrace direct bookings, the company kept to their executives’ promise on May 10. Read more at Skift

Hotels in New York and Chicago File Suit Over Marriott’s Purchase of Starwood: Marriott International Inc.’s acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc. was challenged by the owners of hotels in Chicago and New York who say the merger would violate exclusivity agreements. Read more at Skift

Hotel Brands Quietly Give Travel Agents Access to Preferred Lower Rates: Yesterday, news broke from The Company Dime that hotels are already offering direct rates through global distribution system partnerships with travel agencies. Hyatt Hotels and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) are tabbed as the first two hotel companies to begin to implement this strategy. Read more at Skift

Your Turn

Leif Pettersen just finished a new book called Backpacking with Dracula. Find it on Amazon here.

Tips and Comments

Can be sent to gm[at]skift[dot]com or to @grantkmartin

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Photo credit: Travelers wait in a security line at O'Hare International Airport Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 in Chicago. 164363 / 164363

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