China resumes direct flights to North Korea after 6 years

BEIJING (AP) – China’s flag carrier resumed direct flights between Beijing and North Korea’s capital of Pyongyang on Monday not long after the restoration of passenger train services between the capitals.

3 killed in tourist helicopter crash off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai

HANALEI, Hawaii (AP) – A tourist helicopter crashed near a remote beach off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Kauai, killing three people and injuring two others, authorities said.The helicopter was carrying one pilot and four passengers when it crashed Thursday afternoon at Kalalau Beach, the Kauai Fire Department said.

A pink veil across the fields: Thousands flock to Greece's peach blossoms

VERIA, Greece (AP) – Each spring, a pink veil unfolds across the plains of Greece’s largest peach-producing region. The blossoming peach trees create a spectacular sight that attracts visitors every year, mostly from Greece but increasingly also from the rest of Europe.

A hidden cloister in the center of Rome has a turbulent past

ROME (AP) – A hidden cloister just a few steps from Rome’s Pantheon is a peaceful place for silent meditation – if the millions of tourists who trudge past even know it’s there. Behind the large wooden door, its frescoed walls closed to the general public reveal details of the compound’s dramatic history, including papal conclaves.

Many Tourism Hotspots Are 'De‑Marketing' - With Mixed Success

Those who watched the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics probably placed Italy high on their travel bucket lists. Global events frequently generate abrupt spikes in visitor demand. This is a boon for many tourism operators and business owners, but it often leads to short-term yet significant pressures on destinations.

 

Enhanced role for immigration officers at US airports as shutdown frustrates travelers

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal immigration agents newly ordered to U.S. airports by President Donald Trump to help relieve security line congestion may guard exit lanes or check passenger IDs as a budget impasse has air travelers frustrated over hourslong waits and screeners angry about missed paychecks.

American Airlines and Google say AI helped reduce contrails that trap heat

American Airlines and Google said Thursday that they significantly reduced the climate impact of some of the airline’s flights using an AI-based forecasting tool to help prevent contrails. When airplanes fly through cold and humid areas, ice crystals can form around the soot particles emitted from the engine, creating clouds that trap heat and warm the planet.

Jet fuel prices and airfares are rising. Travelers are still booking flights.

Major U.S. airlines say they are not expecting a significant dent in quarterly profits despite soaring jet fuel costs tied to the war in the Middle East adding hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses. Executives from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines told investors Tuesday that strong ticket sales are helping offset those higher costs.

FAA mandates radar separation for helicopters and planes

Air traffic controllers will use radar, not just visual checks, to ensure that helicopters maintain a safe distance from arriving and departing airplanes in the wake of last year’s fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., federal officials announced Wednesday.