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US Transportation Secretary says that the shortage of air traffic controllers will continue.
Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, said that U.S. Airports reported 22 incidents on Saturday of air traffic controller shortages. More shortages are expected in the coming days as the government shutdown continues. FlightAware's flight tracking site reported that there were over 5,900 U.S. flights delayed by 6 pm Eastern Time (2200 GMT), on Sunday, and more than 5300 delays on Saturday. Since the shutdown began, October 1, delays have been often above average. As observers search for signs that the shutdown is affecting Americans, they have closely monitored the state of air safety. This could lead to lawmakers being pressured to end the budget impasse that caused the shutdown. Duffy said that the Federal Aviation Administration had 22 "triggers", which indicated a shortage of air traffic control, on Saturday. Duffy called this figure "one the highest we've seen since October 1" Duffy stated that "that's a sign the controllers have worn thin." According to the FAA's website, ground delays were issued due to staff shortages at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on Sunday. The same was true for Washington's Reagan National Airport as well as Newark Liberty International Airport. A ground stop was also issued at Los Angeles International Airport due to a shortage of traffic controllers on Sunday around 11:30 am (1530 GMT). The ground stop was lifted a short time later, but delays continued. Trump Administration has warned that flight delays will increase as controllers do not receive their first full pay on Tuesday. Two weeks ago, air traffic controllers were paid at 90% of the regular rate. The pay they received on Tuesday was for the first time that they were paid solely for October's work. Duffy explained that controllers who are facing the possibility of not receiving a federal pay check will look for alternative sources of income. He said, "They are taking second jobs and they are out looking." Even if they don't get paid, 13,000 air traffic control officers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents must still work during the shutdown. Even before the shutdown, many air traffic controllers were working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime to meet their staffing targets. During a 35-day government shutdown in 2019, the number of controllers and TSA agents absent increased as they missed their paychecks. This led to longer wait times at airport checkpoints. New York and Washington authorities were forced to slow down air traffic. Duffy and Republicans have criticised Democrats for their opposition to a "clean", short-term funding measure without any strings attached. Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump for refusing negotiations over the health care subsidies which expire at year's end. Idrees Al and David Shepardson, with editing by Nia Williams, Edmund Klamann and Sergio Non.
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US Transportation Secretary says that there are shortages of air traffic controllers.
Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, said that the U.S. airports had reported more than 20 instances of air traffic controller shortages Saturday. This is the latest indication of the impact of the shutdown. The shutdown began on October 1, when lawmakers were unable to agree on a federal budget. Trump Administration has warned that flight delays will increase due to the fact that controllers are not getting paid their first full pay on Tuesday. Duffy said that the Federal Aviation Administration had 22 "triggers", which indicated a shortage of air traffic control, on Saturday. He said that this figure was "one of highest we've seen since October 1" in the system. Duffy explained that "that's a sign the controllers have worn thin." Air safety is closely monitored for any signs of increased delays or cancellations. Observers are looking for anything to show that the shutdown makes life more difficult for Americans. This could lead lawmakers to act. FlightAware's flight tracking site reported that there were over 5,300 U.S. flights delayed on Saturday, and by 12 noon, more than 2,500. ET on Sunday. Since the shutdown began, delays have been higher than average. Duffy, who believes that the shutdown will continue for some time to come, predicted that there would be more delays and cancellations in the coming days due to the lack of traffic controllers. According to the FAA, air traffic control issues were already reported for flights from Chicago and Newark on Sunday. Around 11:30 am, the agency announced a ground-stop at Los Angeles International Airport because of a shortage of traffic controllers. ET (1530 GMT). The agency reported a shortage of air traffic controllers on six U.S. Airports by noon Sunday ET. Two weeks ago, air traffic controllers were paid at 90% of the regular rate. The pay they received on Tuesday was for the first time that they were paid solely for October's work. Duffy explained that controllers who are facing the possibility of not receiving a federal pay check will look for alternative sources of income. He said, "They are taking second jobs and they are out looking." Even before the shutdown, many air traffic controllers were working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime to meet their staffing targets. In 2019, the number of controllers and TSA agents absented increased during a 35 day shutdown as workers missed their paychecks. This led to longer wait times at airport checkpoints. New York and Washington authorities were forced to slow down air traffic. Duffy and Republicans have criticised Democrats for their opposition to a "clean", short-term funding measure without any strings attached. Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump for refusing negotiations over the health care subsidies which expire at year's end. Idrees Al and David Shepardson, Sergio Non and Nia William edited the article.
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American Airlines resumes flights to Israel after ceasefire in Gaza
American Airlines announced on Sunday that it will resume flights to Israel by March. The U.S. carrier had halted its New York JFK-Tel Aviv route after Hamas' attack of October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza for two years. American announced that it would resume its JFK flights on March 28, 2019. Delta and United, two of the biggest airlines in the United States, have resumed flights from Israel. Many foreign airlines ceased flights to Tel Aviv on October 7, and have stayed away from Tel Aviv for long periods of time in the last two years because of intermittent missile attacks by Iran and Yemen. The demand for international flights was far greater than the supply. As a result, airfares increased. Following a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and Hamas militants in Palestine, many foreign carriers have resumed flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways, SAS Iberia, and Swiss will resume flights in the coming week. American will be the fifth airline to fly to Israel non-stop from the United States. El Al, Arkia and Delta are the others. United is also expected to add daily flights to Tel Aviv later from Washington (November 2nd) and Chicago (November 1st). According to Israel Airports Authority, the number of passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv increased by 25% during the first nine-month period of 2025. The airport now has 13.6 million passengers. El Al's share of the market dropped from 44% to 32.5% a year ago. (Reporting and editing by David Holmes; Steven Scheer)
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Officials say that two workers were killed by a pipeline explosion at the Zubair oilfield in Iraq.
Officials from the Zubair oilfield in Iraq said that at least two workers died in an explosion of a pipeline in the oilfield on Sunday. They said there was no impact on the oil flow, as throughput is currently at 400,000 barges per day. Officials said that the fire, which caused five serious injuries, started when a group was welding near the pipeline. Firefighters worked to put out the fire that broke out in a section on the pipeline transporting crude oil from Zubair to storage tanks nearby. Officials said that some of the injured workers had severe burns, and are still in critical condition. This raises concerns about the possibility of more deaths. One official said that the fire had not affected production, but needed to be put out quickly to prevent a partial shut down of certain loading operations. (Reporting from Aref Mohammed in Basra, and Ahmed Rasheed at Baghdad. Editing by Tom Hogue.)
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Lithuania closes Vilnius Airport again due to balloons in the airspace
The National Crisis Management Centre of Lithuania reported that the Vilnius airport in Lithuania was closed Saturday as a result of weather balloons that entered its airspace from Belarus. This is the fourth disruption to the airport this month. The NCMC reported that traffic at the airport had been suspended until 2 am (2330 GMT). In recent weeks, drone sightings have caused chaos at European airports including Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic Region. Lithuania said that smugglers who transport contraband cigarettes send balloons, but also blamed Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko - a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin - for not stopping this practice. Inga Ruginiene, the Lithuanian prime minister, said on Friday that the National Security Commission would meet next week to evaluate the situation. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Andrius Sytas)
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Aeromexico asks US Court to block Trump Order forcing Delta joint venture to end
Aeromexico requested the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to stop a Trump Administration order that forced it to dissolve a joint venture between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico by January 1, 2018. The joint venture allows the carriers to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and capacity decisions on U.S. to Mexico flights. Aeromexico claimed that even if the court upheld this arrangement, it would still be faced with substantial costs it couldn't recover. The U.S. Department of Transportation, in September, ordered the termination of the joint venture, which had been operating for nearly nine years, as part of a series of actions targeting Mexican aviation. USDOT didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Aeromexico stated that the order required it to "divert Existing and hire new employees, establish a brand presence in the U.S. and separate its pricing and sales platforms for U.S. from Delta's." The Mexican airline added that the airlines would suffer "concrete and calculable damage" from an overhaul of their brand and operation. USDOT announced in August that the joint venture must end due to "ongoing anticompetitive impacts on U.S. Mexico City markets which provide unfair advantages to Delta and Aeromexico." About 60% of passengers flying from Mexico City Airport into the U.S. are carried by these carriers. The airport is the 4th largest international gateway into and out of the United States. Aeromexico has a 20% share of the U.S. - Mexico market with Delta, while American Airlines holds 21%. USDOT has stated that the likely issues from this venture are higher fares on some markets, reduced capacities and difficulties for U.S. carriers because of government intervention. Delta claims that up to $850 million in consumer benefits per year could disappear, and two dozen routes may be cancelled. Smaller aircraft will replace the existing planes. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Reporting by David Shepardson)
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Sources say that Sable will need to raise $1.7 billion to advance the Santa Ynez Project.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter said that Sable Offshore will need $1.7 billion to implement a floating-storage strategy as an alternative for marketing crude oil from the Santa Ynez Field off California via pipeline. Sable Offshore told investors last month that it would pursue an offshore storage strategy and treat vessels to market oil from the Santa Ynez Project, but it continued to fight California regulators who challenged its plan to restart an onshore pipeline to move crude from the Santa Ynez Project to regional refineries. It was not previously known what the estimated cost would be to pursue this strategy. Sable's estimate includes the refinancing a $900m loan from Exxon Mobil, which was used to purchase the project after the oil giant shut it down in 2015 due to an oil spill. Sources said that approximately $450 million would be needed to purchase or convert the offshore storage vessel, as well as any modifications. Another $300 million would cover operational costs including general and administrative expenses. Sources said that the company was in discussions with the U.S. Government for funding for the project. This could include a federal guarantee of loan, they added. Sources requested anonymity because the details of the negotiations and estimated funding requirements with the U.S. Government are not public. Sable refused to comment on financing estimates or discussions with the federal government. The White House didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. A MONTH-LONG PIPELINE DISSENSION Sable is locked in a dispute with California that has lasted for months over the restarting of the Santa Ynez Project, which was shut down nearly a decade ago after the spillage in 2015. Sable resumed production on one of the platforms back in May. A California judge tentatively ruled last week against Sable Offshore’s request to lift a California Coastal Commission cease and desist on repairs made to its onshore pipeline system called Las Flores. Sable said at the time that the decision did not impact its plans to resume transportation of petroleum through Las Flores, or production. However, it added that it would appeal the decision. Sable's plans for reopening the pipeline have been dealt a further blow this week after the California Office of State Fire Marshal stated that Sable had not met all the requirements to restart the pipe. In a letter dated Oct. 22, the OSFM informed Sable that it had not completed the repairs to the pipeline as required by the waivers it received last year. Sable's response to OSFM Thursday said that the conclusions of the agency are incorrect and in conflict with the numerous discussions between the two parties. "Sable strongly opposes the allegations. They are inconsistent with both the plain language in the waivers as well as numerous previous discussions with OSFM expert that confirm Sable's full compliance with waivers. Sable will supplement this initial reply and is looking forward to quickly resolving the misunderstanding with OSFM", it stated on Thursday. (Reporting and editing by Anna Driver in New York, Shariq Khan from New York)
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Reclining seats are another airline convenience that comes with a price.
The latest airline perk is reclining seats, but it comes at a price. Both passengers and staff are annoyed by this. WestJet, based in Calgary, began flying its first newly configured 43 planes on Wednesday. Standard economy seats are now fixed. The option to recline seats is still available but at a higher price. This has sparked a backlash among some passengers and pilots who claim that the change may affect their health and safety. Bernie Lewall is the chair of a WestJet local union. He wants to ensure that pilots are not forced to fly in seats with non-reclining backrests to their work locations, also known as deadheading. Lewall, the chair of WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council said: "If they believe that there is a market in this area I am fine with it." What I am not okay with is being forced into a deadheading seat where it may lead to fatigue or health issues. He said that pilots were considering a grievance. WestJet has said that any deadhead travel by pilots will be managed according to their collective agreement. Although European low-cost airlines don't usually offer reclining chairs, this is a new development for North Americans who view it as an additional charge to previously free benefits like carry-on luggage and seat selection. Gurneet, a 28-year-old student from Greater Toronto said: "I believe there must be an alternative that makes flights more affordable without sacrificing comfort." Melissa Fisher, of Portland, Oregon said that travelers have limited power to fight back, as low-cost airlines increasingly charge for extras in order to boost their finances. What are you going do? What if you don't want to fly? "Pay more?" She said. The reclining economy seats are not for everyone. They often cause disputes in the air. WestJet reported that half of the passengers who tried the new seats preferred a fixed recline in order to prevent others from encroaching upon their personal space. The airline will complete the remaining 42 aircraft early next year. They will represent less than one-third of its narrowbody fleet. "Unfortunately there is no legal right to reclined seats," said Dr. Gabor Lukacs of Air Passenger Rights, a nonprofit organization. (Reporting by Allison Lampert, Montreal; Doyinsola Oladipo, New York; Editing and production by Joe Brock and Rosalba Brien).
Russia claims to have shot down 193 Ukrainian drones including 34 that were aimed at Moscow
Russian authorities announced on Monday that Russian air defence systems had destroyed 193 Ukrainian drones over night, including 34 that were aimed at Moscow and 47 in the Bryansk area, where one person died and five others injured.
Alexander Bogomaz said that a Ukrainian drone struck a minibus in Bryansk in southwest Russia, which borders Ukraine. The drone killed the driver of the vehicle and injured five passengers.
Sergei Sobyanin said that the drones were brought down in a six-hour period, beginning just before 10:00 pm on Sunday Moscow time (2000 GMT), according to a Telegram post by the Russian capital's mayor.
No damage was reported in Moscow. However, Russia does not usually reveal the full extent of damage caused by Ukrainian strikes on its territory when civilians or civilian items are involved.
Rosaviatsiya, the Russian aviation watchdog, said that two airports in Moscow, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, would be closed for approximately 2.5 hours starting at 2240 GMT, to ensure safety.
In its daily Telegram report, the Russian Defence Ministry said that, in addition to the drones downed over Moscow and Bryansk, Russian systems also destroyed drones in 11 other regions, primarily in the west and south of the country.
Could not independently verify Russia’s reports about the attacks.
Ukraine did not immediately comment. Kyiv had previously stated that its attacks were aimed at destroying key infrastructure for Russia's war against Ukraine.
The vast majority of the deaths in the conflict have been Ukrainian civilians. Reporting by Lidia Kelley in Melbourne, editing by Nia William, Leslie Adler, and Himani Sarkar
(source: Reuters)