Delta introduces new in-flight perks, announces YouTube partnership
Delta Air Lines has unveiled new perks for those looking to fly. The airline announced innovative updates to its in-flight experience during its 100th-anniversary celebration at CES.
The airline is soon phasing out wired headphones on its flights. The new in-flight entertainment system includes a partnership with YouTube, offering SkyMiles members ad-free access to their favorite creators, music and podcasts while flying.
AI-powered travel assistant
Delta also unveiled its new “assistant” powered by artificial intelligence, Delta Concierge, which is on track to roll out this year. The assistant will provide travel guidance, including passport expiration alerts and visa requirement updates, enhancing the customer experience.
Collaboration with Thales Aviation
The airline is teaming up with aerospace technology company Thales Aviation. This partnership aims to improve air traffic management and elevate in-flight entertainment.
Starting in 2026, Delta plans to roll out hardware and software upgrades, including:
4K HDR QLED displays.
Bluetooth capabilities in all cabins.
96-terabyte storage system for content and streaming.
Recommendation engine to tailor content to customer preferences.
“Do Not Disturb” seat back feature.
“Whether through fast, free Wi-Fi, our industry-leading seat back screens, or other personalized channels in Delta’s digital ecosystem, we’re committed to creating a seamless and enriching experience for our SkyMiles members,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
Earn miles with Uber
Delta’s new partnership with Uber offers SkyMiles members 15% off all Uber rides to and from the airport. Customers can join the waitlist now to receive the latest updates on this feature.
Two people found dead in landing gear of JetBlue flight
JetBlue confirmed two people were found dead in the wheel well of one of its planes the night of Monday, Jan. 6. The flight landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, from New York City.
Workers, doing a post-flight maintenance inspection, discovered the bodies. As of the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7, the bodies haven’t been identified.
JetBlue officials said the bodies were found on flight 1801 from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. That flight landed just after 11 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, according to the tracker FlightAware.
The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will now conduct autopsies to try to determine the cause of death. Airport operations continued without interruption, according to officials.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the landing gear compartment is often used by stowaways. However, there is very little space and the person can lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen and freezing temperatures at high altitudes.
In December 2024, workers discovered a body in the wheel well of a United Airlines flight that had flown from Chicago to Hawaii. Authorities still haven’t identified that person. The airline said the plane, which departed from O’Hare International Airport, was only accessible from the outside.
In addition, a woman boarded a Delta Air Lines flight over the Thanksgiving holiday and made it from Paris to New York before getting arrested.
On Christmas Eve, a stowaway boarded a Delta flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, bound for Hawaii, without a scanned ticket or boarding pass. When Delta employees discovered the unidentified person, the plane returned to the gate and the person ran off the flight. However, the person was later arrested in an airport restroom.
Former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo told CNN, the stowaways post a huge security danger because they could be somebody trying to cause harm.
Investigators are now trying to figure out how the two people, who died on the JetBlue flight, were able to gain access to the plane. A spokesperson for the airline called the situation heartbreaking.
Delta tops North American list for most punctual flights
The busy holiday travel season has ended, with AAA predicting nearly 8 million people chose to fly to get where they needed to go. Now, a new report shows which airlines were the most on-time.
The airline analytics company Cirium has released its rankings for 2024, with Delta Air Lines finishing first.
Researchers found that Delta had an 84% on-time departure rate and an 83% on-time arrival rate.
United Airlines came in at No. 2 with an 82% on-time departure rate and an 81% on-time arrival average.
Alaska Airlines was No. 3, with 82% of its departures and 79% of arrivals being on time.
American Airlines took fourth, with 79% of flights departing on time and 78% arriving on time.
Southwest came in at No. 5. Its flights were on time 77% of the time and its arrivals were 78% on time.
According to the report, Delta came in third place when compared to all the airlines around the world. Aeromexico and Saudia Airlines topped the list, respectively.
Top on-time airlines around the world
Aeromexico.
Saudia Airlines.
Delta Air Lines.
Air travel was up in 2024 due to an increase in international trips. According to the International Air Transport Association, from January to October, revenue-passenger miles increased by 11% compared to 2023.
The association predicts that by 2025, departures will increase by 4.6% to a level of 40 million. As a result, the airlines are adding flights and increasing premium seating.
Chinese-sponsored hackers behind ‘major’ breach: Treasury Department
Investigators accuse China of hacking U.S. Treasury Department computers. And funeral arrangements are set for America’s 39th president, Jimmy Carter. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased updates for Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
Chinese-sponsored hackers are behind ‘major’ breach: Treasury Department
The U.S. Department of Treasury said it’s still working to determine the extent of damage from a data breach it called “a major incident.” In a letter sent to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on Monday, Dec. 30, the Treasury Department said a Chinese-sponsored “threat actor” was able to gain access to department employees’ workstations earlier this month and view “unclassified documents” maintained by those workers.
The letter said the hackers gained access through a third-party cybersecurity service called BeyondTrust and overrode certain department security measures. The department stopped using BeyondTrust after the attack.
The Treasury Department is working with the FBI and other members of the U.S. intelligence community to “fully characterize the incident and determine its full impact.” The department said it will provide Congress more information in a supplemental report within 30 days.
China’s ministry of foreign affairs denied any Chinese involvement.
Arrest warrant issued for embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
The court recently voted to strip Yoon of his presidential powers. He faces impeachment over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
The court granted the arrest warrant for Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including one over accusations of leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty in South Korea.
President Joe Biden spoke with the nation’s interim president in recent weeks, expressing America’s commitment to democracy there. America has roughly 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea as a deterrent to communist North Korea.
Memorial events scheduled for late President Jimmy Carter
Details are now public about the nation’s plans to pay tribute to the late former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday, Dec. 29, at 100 years old. Biden declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning. New Year’s Day will begin an eight-day mourning period.
The Carter family will gather in the former president’s hometown of Plains, Georgia, over the next few days.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, the state funeral will be held. It starts at 10:15 a.m. ET with a motorcade from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus, Georgia, and will travel through Plains, taking a brief pause at 10:50 a.m.
At that stop, the National Park Service will ring the historic bell on the Carter family farm 39 times in honor of the late president. At 10:55 a.m., Carter’s final journey to Atlanta will begin.
At 3 p.m., the motorcade will stop at the Georgia State Capitol for a moment of silence led by Gov. Brian Kemp. It will then go on to its destination, the Carter Presidential Center, for a service at 4 p.m.
Carter will lie in repose from 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5, until 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, for the public to pay respects.
He will then be taken to Washington, D.C., where Congress will pay tribute in a private ceremony. Then Carter will lie in state for the public to pay respects until Thursday, Jan. 9, when Carter will be taken home to Georgia for a private family funeral service and internment. Biden is expected to deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
5 people charged in connection with singer Liam Payne’s death
Five people were charged in connection with the death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne in Argentina, according to the country’s prosecutor’s office. Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October after police said he consumed “various substances,” including drugs and alcohol.
A friend of Payne, the hotel manager and its head of reception are accused of “negligent homicide” in connection with the singer’s death. If convicted, they face a maximum of five years in prison.
Two other hotel employees were charged with selling Payne drugs. They face up to 15 years in prison.
FAA investigating after Gonzaga Bulldogs’ jet ordered to stop at LAX
The Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation after a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University men’s basketball team nearly crossed a runway as another flight took off from Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Dec. 27.
The FAA has launched an investigation after a Delta plane almost hit the Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team’s private jet on Friday. 😳
The jet, operated by Key Lime Air, was ordered by air traffic controllers to stop as a Delta flight took off. No one was hurt. Gonzaga was in Los Angeles for its game against UCLA on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Over 1 million expected to ring in the new year at Times Square
The NYPD said while there have not been any “specific credible threats” to the Times Square celebration, the department has been operating in a heightened threat environment since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel.
As for the big celebration, fans braving possible wet weather and the many others watching at home will be able to enjoy musical acts from Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and the Jonas Brothers.
Senate report criticizes airline ‘junk fees’ totaling billions of dollars
Airlines are raking in billions of dollars in “junk-fees,” according to a new report. The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations centers on extra charges people pay when they fly, like checking bags or choosing their seat.
It found from 2018 to 2023, five U.S. airlines made more than $12 billion on seat selection fees alone.
The report said for an extra legroom seat, United Airlines charged as much as $319, Spirit Airlines charged up to $299, Delta Airlines charged as much as $264, Frontier Airlines charged as much as $141 and American Airlines charged as much as $140.
Lawmakers reported some of the fees are set up to avoid taxes.
Federal law applies a 7.5% tax to passenger air transportation, with some airlines calling certain services “optional” to bypass the tax on those charges. The ambiguity encourages airlines to charge more in non-taxable fees.
Some are maximizing this strategy to gain an advantage in attracting budget-conscious customers.
The report also found some airlines, like Frontier and Spirit, reward agents for catching travelers who do not follow carry-on rules.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration started ramping up consumer protections.
The Department of Transportation proposed to ban family seating junk fees. The proposal would guarantee parents can sit with their kids for no extra charge.
This led to at least four airlines offering fee-free family seating.
Last week, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded to criticism from airline executives who say they’re being over-regulated.
“I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that the next administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than this administration,” Buttigieg said. “What I will say is the passenger protections that we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support.”
It’s unclear exactly what incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s plans are for the airline industry.
The Senate subcommittee will hold a hearing next week, giving airline officials a chance to respond.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian calls Trump’s regulatory approach ‘breath of fresh air’
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said Wednesday, Nov. 20, he’s looking forward to President-elect Donald Trump returning to the White House because his approach to regulation could be “a breath of fresh air.” Bastian spoke with reporters before Delta’s “Investor Day” in Atlanta, saying that under the Biden administration, the airline industry has seen governmental “overreach.”
He credited Trump’s plan “to take a fresh look at the regulatory environment, the bureaucracy that exists in government, the level of overreach that we have seen over the last four years within our industry.”
Over the past four years, the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a number of rules for the airline industry — aimed at protecting airline passengers — including automatic cash refunds for canceled flights and eliminating surprise junk fees when purchasing a ticket to fly.
It’s unclear which policy or policies Bastian considers “overreach.”
In May of this year, several major U.S. airlines — including Delta — filed suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation over the junk fees rule.
The Transportation Department said consumers are paying more than $543 million in fees every year, and that airlines are receiving additional revenue from those hidden fees.
The Department of Transportation is also investigating Delta’s response to a global technology outage it experienced in July, when thousands of flights were canceled.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at the time the probe was “to ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions.”
Consumer advocates worry that the incoming Trump administration will roll back consumer protections put in place by the Biden administration.
AAA predicts record Thanksgiving week travel, nearly 80 million on the move
Americans are gearing up for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest holiday for travel is only about a week away and AAA has its latest projections on how the busy travel season might look.
The group predicts 79.9 million Americans will drive, fly or take some other form of transportation 50 miles or farther during the Thanksgiving travel season.
The 2024 projection would be a 2% increase compared to last year or up by roughly 1.7 million travelers from 2023.
This year, AAA expanded its window for Thanksgiving holiday travel. It now goes from next Tuesday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 2, or the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Drivers will see lower gas prices. The national average is on pace to be below $3 per gallon for the first time since 2021.
Transportation experts say the best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when the highways are less congested. The afternoons of Tuesday, Nov. 26 and Wednesday, Nov. 27 are the worst times, according to AAA.
After the holiday, AAA expects the roads to be busiest Dec. 1, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Experts advise drivers to hit the road early in the morning if they plan on leaving that day.
If you plan on flying, AAA predicts about 5.8 million people will head to airports over the holiday week. That’s up by about 100,000 from last year.
Booking data shows the top destinations are warm places like Orlando and Las Vegas. Major metropolitan areas including Atlanta and Los Angeles are also popular among travelers.
Forecasters believe cooler temperatures, cold rain and snow in the higher elevations will arrive Sunday, Nov. 24, for the East Coast.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Center’s outlook shows California, the Pacific Northwest, Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Great Lakes States receiving above-average precipitation. However, meteorologists will know more as we get closer to Thanksgiving.
Major airlines suspend flights to Israel as Middle East conflict grows
Delta, United and many other major airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv as regional conflict with Israel intensifies. The suspensions are expected to last through early 2025 for some carriers, leaving travelers scrambling to adjust their plans.
Delta Airlines announced it is suspending all flights between New York’s JFK Airport and Tel Aviv until at least March 31, 2025. The airline cited the ongoing violence and security concerns as the reasons for its decision. Travelers who purchased tickets before that date are eligible for travel waivers, the airline said in a statement.
United Airlines has also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv for the “foreseeable future,” while American Airlines has canceled its flights to the region until March 2025. The suspensions leave El Al, Israel’s national airline, as one of the few still offering direct flights between the U.S. and Israel.
Reuters
The cancellations came in response to the broader conflict in the region, which began after a large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel. The conflict has since expanded as Hezbollah fires rockets into Israel from Lebanon. With the situation becoming more volatile, airlines have been forced to reevaluate their operations in the area.
U.S. officials have urged Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where access to food and essentials has become increasingly difficult amid the ongoing fighting. Despite this, violence continues to escalate, with no clear end in sight.
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump go on the attack in presidential debate
We recap the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. And SpaceX launches four private citizens into space for one historic mission. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump go on the attack in presidential debate
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris met for their first — and potentially only — debate Tuesday night, Sept. 10. The two presidential candidates were asked questions about the economy, abortion, immigration, Jan. 6, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and more.
Following a handshake, the candidates went head-to-head for about 90 minutes in Philadelphia, trying to win over any voters who were left undecided less than two months away from Election Day.
On the economy, Harris said, “I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people. And that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy. Because here’s the thing: We know that we have a shortage of homes and housing, and the cost of housing is too expensive for far too many people. We know that young families need support to raise their children. And I intend on extending a tax cut for those families of $6,000, which is the largest child tax credit that we have given in a long time.”
Trump said, “Look, we’ve had a terrible economy because inflation has, which is really known as a country buster. It breaks up countries. We have inflation like very few people have ever seen before, probably the worst in our nation’s history. We were at 21%. But that’s being generous because many things are 50, 60, 70 and 80% higher than they were just a few years ago.”
On abortion, Trump said, “For 52 years, they’ve been trying to get Roe v. Wade into the states. And through the genius and heart and strength of six Supreme Court justices, we were able to do that. Now, I believe in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. I believe strongly in it. Ronald Reagan did also.”
Harris responded, “The majority of Americans believe in a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. And that is why in every state where this issue has been on the ballot in red and blue states, both, the people of America have voted for freedom.”
But it wasn’t always policy that was the subject. Both candidates took jabs at one another throughout the debate, including on the attendance at rallies.
“And he’s going to talk about immigration a lot tonight, even when it’s not the subject that is being raised. And I’m going to actually do something really unusual and I’m going to invite you to attend one of Donald Trump’s rallies because it’s a really interesting thing to watch,” Harris said. “You will see during the course of his rallies, he talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter. He will talk about windmills cause cancer. And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom. And I will tell you, the one thing you will not hear him talk about is you. You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your- and your desires. And I’ll tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first. And I pledge to you that I will.”
“First, let me respond as to the rallies,” Trump said. “She said people start leaving. People don’t go to her rallies. There’s no reason to go. And the people that do go, she’s busing them in and paying them to be there and then showing them in a different light. So she can’t talk about that. People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics. That’s because people want to take their country back. Our country is being lost. We’re a failing nation. And it happened three and a half years ago.”
After the back and forth throughout the debate, the candidates each continued to make their case and claimed victory.
The Harris campaign posted on X the debate was “fun” and to “do it again in October.” While Trump posted on Truth Social saying he thought it was “my best debate ever– especially because it was three on-one,” in a reference to the two ABC News moderators.
Swift has previously been vocal in her support for Democrats in elections at the local and presidential level. Swift encouraged her 280 million followers to do their research and that “the choice is theirs.”
Presidential candidates commemorate 9/11
It’s been 23 years since the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania killed nearly 3,000 people. Remembrance events are being held all across the country Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Vice President Harris and former President Trump are both scheduled to visit Ground Zero in New York Wednesday.
Harris, who will be paying her respects alongside President Joe Biden, will also visit the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon.
After Trump visits Ground Zero, he’s set to visit a fire station in New York City before also traveling to Shanksville.
FAA investigating after Delta plane clips another aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Delta Air Lines plane clipped the tail of another aircraft at the world’s busiest airport Tuesday. Both plans were on the tarmac at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta taxiing for takeoff when it happened.
One of the planes had its wingtip severed from the aircraft in the incident. No one was hurt but both planes were damaged, and passengers had to get off.
Hurricane Francine expected to make landfall in Louisiana Wednesday
Meteorologists say the storm is still gaining strength and is likely to turn into a Category 2 before making landfall in Louisiana then moving north into Mississippi. However, they also expect Francine to weaken quickly as it moves inland.
SpaceX launches 4 astronauts to conduct first private spacewalk
SpaceX launched four astronauts into space on Tuesday for a historic mission. The Dragon capsule lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center carrying a billionaire entrepreneur — who financed the trip — along with a retired Air Force pilot, and two SpaceX engineers.
It took about nine and a half minutes for the capsule to reach orbit. A few minutes later, the capsule separated from its support trunk revealing a spectacular view of the Earth from the onboard cameras.
Delta planes collide on Atlanta taxiway as one loses its tail, no injuries
Two Delta Airline planes collided on a taxiway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 10, causing damage, but no injuries. The incident occurred when a larger Delta Airbus, bound for Tokyo, clipped the tail of a smaller regional jet.
The smaller plane was filled with journalists heading to Louisiana to cover Tropical Storm Francine, and it was still preparing to take off. The resulting impact knocked the smaller jet’s tail off, placing it onto the taxiway.
One of the passengers on board posted on X, describing the incident as “terrifying.”
Delta has confirmed that passengers from both planes will be rebooked on other flights. The wing of the larger Airbus was also damaged, but no fires or major hazards followed the incident.
The incident comes just a month after a tragic accident at the same airport claimed two lives. The workers were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion at Atlanta’s Delta Technical Operations Maintenance facility.
According to the airline, the explosion happened as wheel components were being disassembled for maintenance at their wheel and brake shop.
Airport officials described the recent collision as “minimal.” Delta is expected to cooperate with the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate.
