Airport News & Reviews by Skift

Chinese Travelers Love Duty Free and That’s Creating Big Revenue for Airports

Andrew Janes, Bloomberg

Chinese travelers' love of duty free is not just creating a bonanza for Chinese airports. Chinese passengers are buying so many goods at stores in North America, Europe and Australia that many retailers are designing shops to cater to them.

11 hours ago

Ryanair Says That UK Airports Have a Drinking Problem

Associated Press

While it would be easy to point out that Ryanair passengers usually wait to get to their destination to go crazy with booze, it’s also hard to disagree with the position Ryanair is taking here. Cutting morning drinking in most cases is not a bad idea.

4 days ago

Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport Will Endure as a Global Hub

Colin Nagy, Skift

There's more hub competition heating up in the region, but Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok manages to capture the magic and inspiration of travel.

5 days ago

Barcelona Airport Strike Disrupts Summer Travel Season

Ciaran Giles, Associated Press

A strike by airport workers in Barcelona is leading to security screening delays during Europe's busiest travel period, and the disruptions are expected to continue.

2 weeks ago

Asia’s Smaller Hub Airports Are Spending $1 Trillion on Tune-Ups

Angus Whitley and Kyunghee Park, Bloomberg

The huge spending by smaller Asian airports is an identity crisis in-waiting for Singapore and Hong Kong, the traditional hubs of the region. The weakening of Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific doesn't help, either.

3 weeks ago

U.S. Flyers Will Soon Have to Separate Large Electronics at Security Checkpoints

Associated Press

This security change will slow down airport security lines and lead to some confusion at TSA security checkpoints. It represents a middle ground after attempts to ban large electronics completely from aircraft cabins, representing something of a win for U.S. passengers.

3 weeks ago

Tips From a Road Warrior: Never Eat on Planes and Always Carry Pepto-Bismol

Mark Ellwood, Bloomberg

You will almost certainly feel better when you arrive if you don't eat the airline food. But what fun is that? Eating two or three meals on a long-haul flight is part of the experience, right?

4 weeks ago

U.S. Steps Up Electronics Screenings on Inbound International Flights

Jill Colvin, Associated Press

More intense screening procedures on big electronic devices will lead to longer lines in security for travelers to the U.S. And if you're singled out and have forgotten to charge a device, you may have to dispose of it in order to get through security.

4 weeks ago

Airports Still Await Takeoff of Air Traffic Control Privatization

Kevin Freking, Associated Press

Privatization of the U.S. air traffic control ought to make travel more efficient. But will there be enough funding? Will it be drawn from levies on flights rather than on passengers? Who will set the fees?

4 weeks ago

Robot Helps Passengers Navigate Seattle-Tacoma Airport in 6 Languages

Associated Press

Tracey speaks six languages and doesn't accept tips, but hands out advice as a demonstration of her special talents at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. It's a great idea but when Tracey can rebook passengers from cancelled flights, then we'll get really excited.

1 month ago

Portugal Comes Closer to a Drone Crackdown After Airplane Near-Misses

Associated Press

There hasn't been a confirmed collision between a drone and a commercial aircraft. But the potential for a disaster is real enough that pilots unions in many countries want the hobbyist devices policed. It's hard to disagree.

1 month ago

Foreign Governments On Notice To Share Security Data or Face U.S. Travel Sanctions

Matthew Lee, Associated Press

Is this a legitimate move to enhance security at U.S. airports or an extended travel ban without calling it as such? The Trump administration has so poisoned the well that it's hard to tell.

1 month ago