Air Force One and Spirit Flight Have Close Call Over NYC

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By Eric Hanson

Foreign Bureau

Flight delays are not only frustrating, but they can also be truly disruptive if your plans include catching a connecting flight.

Fortunately, we now have the latest available data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) ranking the best and worst airports across the United States for on-time departures. (Translation: bookmark this page for future reference).

Let’s start with the worst offender when it comes to planes leaving on time, shall we?

Leading the pack in this category is Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which had an on-time rate of just 69.28 percent, according to BTS data through June 30, 2025.

Also worth noting: This is not DFW’s first time as the worst airport in the nation for on-time departures. The Texas airport was the worst offender last year as well, with a 68.15 percent on-time rate through June 30, 2024.

Globetrotters who want to increase the odds departing on time may want to try flying out of Salt Lake City, Utah when possible. The airport came in number one for on-time departures with 83.94 percent of flights leaving when scheduled.

Los Angeles’ LAX came in a tight second with an on-time departure rate of 82.82 percent, followed by San Francisco (SFO) in third place of 81.94 percent.  In fact, California dominates the on-time departure airports with San Diego also in the top 10 (at No. 9 with a 79.04 percent on-time rate).

While most of us are beholden to our hometown airports for convenience sake, here are some of the additional airports you may want to avoid if departing on-time is a priority. 

Coming in behind the worst offender, DFW, is Washington D.C. (DCA), where the on-time departure rate is just 70.74 percent. Denver, Colorado (DEN) also has room for improvement with regard to on-time departures. Just 73.34 percent of flights leave the Colorado airport when scheduled.

Rounding out the five worst airports in the country for on-time departures is Atlanta, Georgia’s Hartsfield-Jackson with a 73.9 percent on-time rate and Baltimore, Maryland’s BWI, where the on-time rate is 73.91 percent.

Want to find out where your hometown airport lands on the list? Here's the full data set from BLS. And if you're worried about weather impacts at your local airport, read our report about US airports with the fewest and most hurricane delays.

By Michael Sinclair

East Coast Bureau

Southwest Airlines is implementing new rules for travelers who use wheelchairs powered by lithium batteries.

The airline will now require passengers who rely on such mobility devices to remove the batteries and carry them into the cabin before their wheelchair is checked by the airline.

The updated policy, which will take effect September 25, was announced via a message that was distributed to Southwest Airlines employees on September 12 by Dave Hunt, the carrier’s vice president for safety and security.

The internal memo, which was shared with TravelPulse by the airline, explains that ”lithium batteries have become one of the most common sources of smoke and fire incidents on aircraft.”

“While these events are rare, quick access and visibility are critical to keeping everyone onboard safe,” Hunt says in the memo. “By taking proactive steps now, Southwest will be among the first U.S. carriers to adopt these higher standards."

Importantly, the memo points out that the batteries will not count as a customer’s carryon or personal item.

Hunt’s memo also explains:

• New size limits will also apply to lithium batteries: each must be 300 watt-hours or less.
• To ease the transition, passengers with batteries larger than 300 watt-hours will have a grace period through Jan. 11, 2026, while all batteries under the 300 watt-hour limit must follow the new process.
• After Jan. 11, devices with batteries above the limit will no longer be accepted for transport. 
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“We recognize how important mobility devices are to many of our customers, and this update is designed to prioritize safety without creating unnecessary barriers to travel,” Hunt added.

The policy change is expected to apply to less than 0.1 percent of Southwest customers, according to the airline.


In an email to TravelPulse today, a Southwest spokesperson said hat the new policy change is a continuation of steps the airline has been taking “to address the risks posed by lithium batteries in enclosed spaces, such as cargo holds."

Previously, the carrier had announced that lithium power banks must be visible in the cabin when being used to recharge devices onboard.

The spokesperson added that the airline is “notifying affected customers when they purchase tickets for Sept. 25 or after,”  of the new policy. 

By Sandy Simpson

East Coast Bureau

Snowbirds and anyone else looking to spend an extended time in the U.S. may face an additional hurdle. For those who aren’t fazed by the exchange rate or escalating trade hostilities, the newly required registration is just one more step to spending the winter in the sunny south.

The “Alien Registration Requirement“ is part of an executive order known dramatically as “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” issued by the American president.

The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) advises those already in the U.S. and those planning to be there for longer than 30 days to check their visa status on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site. CTV News reports that this applies mainly to those who drive across the border, as air passengers are already subject to registration. 

Anyone 14 years old or older without a visa will be required to register. The form is not yet available, but the U.S. government advises anyone subject to the alien registration requirement to create a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account ahead of time so they are prepared. The website warns that "failure to comply will result in criminal and civil penalties, up to and including misdemeanor prosecution and the payment of fines."

The USCIS website states “Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will issue evidence of registration, which aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their possession at all times.” The fingerprint requirement appears to be waived for Canadians.

The website also states that “American Indians born in Canada [sic] who entered the United States under section 289 of the INA.” are not required to register and that more information will be shared in the coming days. 

By Suze Miller

Foreign Bureau

About a month has passed since the Real ID rules at airports have gone into effect, and some travelers are still confused about the new regulations. 

Rumors have been swirling among airline passengers about what type of identifications are actually accepted under the new regulations.

Now, the TSA is clarifying that one type of identification—a Costco membership card—is in fact not a valid form of Real ID accepted at the airport security checkpoint.

“We love hotdogs & rotisserie chickens as much as the next person but please stop telling people their Costco card counts as a REAL ID because it absolutely does not,” the agency said in a recent post on X.

Although membership cards for the bulk-supply grocery store chain are technically photo IDs, the cards are not a federally issued identification or a state-issued enhanced driver’s license, and so they do not meet the Real ID standard.

“Can’t fly on hotdogs and hope,” the TSA posted on its Instagram account. “Your Costco Gold Star Membership card might score you a 48-pack of TP,” the post continued, “but it won’t get you through a TSA checkpoint.”

The theory of presenting a Costco card to get past the TSA checkpoint might have originated with how the agency is trying to help passengers without a valid Real ID try to confirm their identity another way. The agency has previously advised travelers without a proper Real ID to still come to the airport with some form of identification showing their name and address, such as a regular old driver’s license.

Using these IDs and other methods, the TSA can help process a traveler without a Real ID, though fliers shouldn’t rely on this option as a guarantee.

The Costco confusion has likely only affected a small number of air travelers, as 93% of fliers who show up at the airport have a valid Real ID, the TSA said in late May. The new Real ID rules went into effect on May 7, and enforcement has so far been running smoothly.

A driver’s license is Real ID-compliant if there’s a star in one of the upper corners. Not to be confused with a Gold Star Costco Membership card, which “won’t work, no matter how elite your snack haul is,” the TSA said.

Besides a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, travelers can use 17 other types of IDs at the security checkpoint. These include common travel documents, such as a passport, passport card, and a Global Entry card. See the full list of acceptable IDs on the TSA’s site.

By Dorothy Sheridan

East Coast Bureau

Starting November 22, travelers on Delta Air Lines can enjoy a new nonstop route between Austin, Texas (AUS) and Miami, Florida (MIA), in addition to previously announced new nonstop routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. 

The new route will be operated by the airline’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

Earlier in August, the airline announced three new nonstop routes would be coming to Austin this fall and next spring, including routes to Denver (DEN), Columbus (CMH) and Kansas City (MCI). 

“With these new routes and expanded service, Delta is building on a strong foundation in Austin and creating more ways for our customers to get where they want to go,” said Paul Baldoni, Senior Vice President of Network Planning. “It’s another step in delivering the network, convenience and premium experience that sets Delta apart as Austin’s leading global carrier.”   

It will also increase existing service between Austin and San Francisco (SFO) and Indianapolis (IND). 

The airline now flies to nearly 30 destinations from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. 

By Stephen Miller

West Coast Bureau

Flight operations at New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) had a major turnaround this summer, according to United Airlines. 

The carrier, which operates its second-largest hub at EWR, released new numbers showing it had its best-ever operational summer at the airport. More than 6 million people flew on-time with United out of Newark this summer, according to the carrier, which is the most in the airline’s history. 

The carrier also says that its flights out of Newark arrived on time more often over the summer than flights with other airlines operating out of other New York-area airports like JFK or LaGuardia (LGA).

The East Coast hub had faced several operational challenges in the spring, including air traffic control radar and communication outages, controller short-staffing, and runway construction, all of which coalesced in early May to create weeks of chaotic flight disruptions. United Airlines operates more flights to and from Newark than any other carrier, so it was uniquely affected by the operational challenges.

To mitigate the issues, the FAA implemented limits on the number of flights allowed to take off and land at Newark each hour. Those caps are still in place and stand at 34 takeoffs and 34 landings per hour—that’s nine fewer takeoffs and nine fewer landings than what was allowed each hour before the limits. Caps will remain in place tentatively through next summer, according to United.

The flight caps, along with some air traffic control technology fixes, hiring initiatives, and the wrap-up of runway construction, helped Newark to get its operations back on track for the rest of the summer. 

"Newark is operating better than ever and United's future here is bright – that's a credit to the thousands of Newark employees who deliver for our customers and one another every day," said Scott Kirby, United’s CEO. “I want to also thank Secretary Duffy, FAA Administrator Bedford, Governor Murphy and all the national, state and local leaders who helped ensure that Newark remains a safe and reliable crown jewel for millions of domestic and international travelers. As the FAA and DOT implement their plan of increased staffing and improved technology, the reliability and on-time performance of Newark will only get better."

United will also continue to increase its staffing at Newark, with plans to hire more than 2,500 additional employees at the hub through 2026. The airline says that it plans to serve more than 160 domestic and international destinations this fall out of Newark, which is its primary transatlantic gateway.

The airline will add more flights on international routes from EWR to popular destinations like Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh, and Dublin, and launch new domestic routes to Palm Springs, California, Columbia, South Carolina, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Next summer, United says it will bring back its new service from Newark to Nuuk, Greenland. 

By Mitch Haden

Foreign Bureau

A particular type of airline safety incident has been happening more frequently, affecting the health of flight attendants, pilots, and passengers, according to a new report. 

Toxic fumes are leaking into airline cabins at a rapidly growing rate, says a report from The Wall Street Journal. These types of onboard fume incidents typically happen when aviation oil accidentally leaks into a part of the aircraft engine that pulls clean air into the cabin. 

Depending on the severity of the oil leak, the fume episodes can range from a barely noticeable bad odor inside the plane to smoke that fills the cabin and sickens those onboard. The more severe incidents, or repeated exposures, can have dire effects on crew and passenger wellbeing. Potential symptoms and illnesses resulting from a toxic fume incident include difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, headache, vomiting, confusion, vertigo, memory loss and more, according to the Journal. 

The incidents can lead to emergency landings, as well as crew and passenger hospitalization, with some experts postulating that more severe incidents can cause serious conditions like traumatic brain injury, nervous system damage, and potentially cancer. That’s because compounds in aviation oils are known carcinogens and neurotoxins, such as formaldehyde and others.

The incidents, called “bleed air” incidents in industry parlance, have occurred for decades but are now happening ever-more often. The Wall Street Journal examined fume event reports that airlines submitted to the FAA. In 2014, there were “about 12 fume events per million departures,” the Journal reported. “By 2024, the rate had jumped to nearly 108.”  

The FAA told the Journal that the increase was due in part to a change in reporting protocols for fume events. However, the report notes that the shift was implemented fairly recently in November 2024.

The Journal’s report shows that the fume events happen most often on Airbus A320 planes, due to specificities of the engine design. The A320 is the best-selling plane in the world and is favored by airlines for the efficiency of its engines. “We are committed to continuously enhancing our products, working closely with operators and regulators to ensure the best possible cabin environment for passengers and crew,” Airbus said in a statement to the Journal.

The only commercial aircraft that doesn’t pull in cabin air through the engines—and therefore isn’t at risk for such episodes—is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet.

"Toxic fumes in aircraft cabins highlight aviation’s hidden and ongoing challenge: passenger and crew well-being,” said Jungho Suh, a teaching assistant professor of management at the George Washington University School of Business. “While airlines face pressure to modernize fleets and implement AI-driven systems, health and safety must stay a top priority. Long-term trust in air travel relies not just on efficiency but on creating cleaner, safer environments where technology and humanity progress hand in hand.”

The issue has been a hot-button one for flight attendants’ unions for years, especially over the past decade or so. In 2017, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, one of the nation’s largest unions that represents about 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, advocated for legislation that would require the FAA to assess the feasibility of prevention tactics like crew training for fume events and installing fume sensors on commercial aircraft. That legislation passed with the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill, but the progress of those measures aren’t clear.

However, a new bill on the matter was introduced to Congress in 2024 and is now building momentum on the Hill. The bi-partisan Safe Air on Airplanes Act seeks to phase out bleed air systems aboard aircraft and was introduced by Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL) after he heard from a constituent who suffered a bleed air incident as a flight attendant. The bill gained additional support in August 2025 when it was endorsed and reintroduced by Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

In addition to eventually phasing out bleed air systems on existing aircraft, the bill would require filters on all current bleed air systems within seven years to keep oil particulates from entering the aircraft interior and ban the systems on newly built aircraft.

"Everyone who boards a plane should be able to trust that the air is clean and safe,” said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, when the bill was reintroduced. “We have known for decades that current bleed air systems can dump toxic chemicals and fuels into the aircraft cabin, poisoning the air for everyone on board. Instead of making simple changes to protect us, manufacturers and airlines have prioritized corporate profits. Flight Attendants applaud Rep. Frost for his leadership on the bipartisan Safe Air on Planes Act. We will work with him to pass this critical legislation that protects our health and the health of the passengers in our care.”