American Airlines

Aborted airport landings add to series of US aviation incidents

27 Feb 2025 - 3:06PMvideocam

Driving remains riskier than flying in 2025 - those accidents aside

28 Feb 2025 - 2:23PM

Flight from New York to New Delhi lands in Rome after ‘security’ issue

American Airlines flight 292 was escorted by fighter jets, but the security concern later proved to be ‘non-credible’.

24 Feb 2025 - 4:07PM

An Italian Air Force Eurofighter aircraft escorts an American Airlines plane. Photo: Italian Air Force via Reuters

Trump fires hundreds of US air traffic control staff weeks after fatal crash

Dismissals raise concerns over air traffic safety, staff shortages after recent fatal collision at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

18 Feb 2025 - 7:51AMvideocam

Stressed US aviation system in focus as crash investigators search for clues

Political pressure mounts in Washington to identify what failed, leading to deadliest American air disaster in decades.

1 Feb 2025 - 6:28AMvideocam

Aviation accidents

Disaster waiting to happen? Pilots have long worried about DC’s complex airspace

Pilots have long warned of a ‘nightmare scenario’ near Reagan Washington National Airport with jetliners and military helicopters crossing paths.

31 Jan 2025 - 4:37PMvideocam

The air traffic control at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with the Capitol dome in the background. Photo: Reuters

Aviation accidents

No survivors in US passenger jet crash; Trump blames diversity hiring

Collision of jet with 64 passengers and crew members with a US Army helicopter was ‘absolutely preventable’, US transportation secretary says.

31 Jan 2025 - 11:14PMvideocam

American Airlines resumes US flights after Christmas Eve technical issue

The airline said a vendor technology issue briefly affected its ability to get planes in the air, causing widespread disruption and stranding thousands of passengers.

24 Dec 2024 - 11:46PM

Hong Kong economy

Airfares for long-haul flights from Hong Kong to remain on ‘high side’ for now

But airfares to short-haul destinations such as Southeast Asia are back to pre-pandemic levels.

10 Aug 2024 - 5:20PM

Travellers check in at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Airlines made US$33 billion from baggage fees in 2023, and could make more in 2024

Last year’s estimate is up almost 15 per cent from 2022, and it’s the first time it’s crossed US$30 billion since before the pandemic.

28 Feb 2024 - 1:22AM

Airlines made more than US$33 billion from baggage fees in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong International Airport

Tokyo to New York in 1 hour? Hypersonic ‘Stargazer’ jet aims to best Concorde

Being developed to fly at nine times the speed of sound, Venus Aerospace’s planned jet will be equipped with rocket engines to climb to an altitude of 52,000 metres – more than four times as high as traditional jetliners.

12 Jul 2023 - 1:01PMvideocam

India

Yet again, a drunk passenger has peed on a fellow traveller on a US-India flight

It’s the third time in recent months that a passenger has been accused of urinating on or near someone else on a flight from New York to New Delhi. In all cases, they were reported to be drunk.

25 Apr 2023 - 1:28PM

India

Drunk Indian man banned from American Airlines for peeing on fellow passenger

The 21-year-old student reportedly argued with crew, was unwilling to be seated and was asleep when he urinated. A similar incident happened on a flight from New York to New Delhi in January.

6 Mar 2023 - 12:45PM

An American Airlines plane takes off. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Britain

Travel chaos: US, UK airport strikes during holiday travel period

London’s Heathrow ground-handling staff will strike from December 16 and US airport service workers are gearing up for a day of action on December 8.

2 Dec 2022 - 11:05PM

Passengers queue inside Heathrow Airport in London, which will be affected by strikes. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong loses longest non-stop flight as American Airlines axes Dallas route

World’s largest airline slashes several international services, blaming Boeing for not delivering new aircraft.

10 Dec 2021 - 7:28PM

US charges passenger who ‘punched flight attendant in face’

Passenger Brian Hsu allegedly punched an American Airlines flight attendant after being told he could not use the bathroom.

2 Nov 2021 - 8:56PM

How 7 empty airports have been repurposed for a world without fliers

With most travellers grounded during the coronavirus pandemic, airports have found new uses for their huge facilities – as drive-in cinemas, private concert halls ... even morgues

18 May 2020 - 1:21PM

While they can't service the same number of fliers, airports have been using their massive empty terminals and adjacent spaces for other means, such as for drive-in movies and Covid-19 testing. Photo: AP

Singapore Airlines slashes flight capacity in response to pandemic

The airline described the outbreak as ‘the greatest challenge in its existence’ and said it was ‘unclear’ when it would resume normal services.

23 Mar 2020 - 11:27PM

Travel news and advice

Keep calm and carry on: more airlines offer meditation apps

Airlines are taking steps to reduce anxiety among passengers, as the coronavirus adds to the stress of flying. Meditation and sleep app makers are partnering with airlines to offer relaxation tracks.

15 Mar 2020 - 6:23PM

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Exclusive | Cathay parks half its fleet and slashes three-quarters of March flights

Hong Kong’s flagship airline keeping 120 planes out of the sky at any one time, and bosses say cuts are in response to market demand as fear of travelling increases amid coronavirus epidemic.

2 Mar 2020 - 8:14AMvideocam

Cathay Pacific aircraft are seen lined up on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Sam Tsang

Food and Drinks

Goodbye aeroplane bars, hello lounges and co-working spaces

Airlines including Etihad, Emirates, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic are all embracing the concept of the high-altitude drinking den as a best-of-all-worlds lounge, designed like a co-working space – but where you can still have a cocktail.

1 Mar 2020 - 8:42PM

There’s still a bartender on Emirates’ top deck.

Hundreds more Hong Kong flights to be cancelled as virus hammers air travel

Cathay Pacific is latest to wield axe, while Taiwan’s new restrictions on visitors from Hong Kong is another blow.

7 Feb 2020 - 6:34PMvideocam

Coronavirus: United Airlines suspends US flights to and from Hong Kong

Announcement means no US carriers will be flying passenger flights to Hong Kong after this week.

5 Feb 2020 - 9:22AMvideocam

American Airlines cancels Dallas, LA flights to Hong Kong citing ‘demand’

The airline had earlier halted flights between the US and mainland China, a ban that is to last until March 27.

5 Feb 2020 - 12:02PM

An American Airlines Airbus A321 plane takes off from Los Angeles International airport. Photo: Reuters

Disease

What airlines are doing to stop coronavirus from spreading

American, United, Cathay Pacific and Thai airways are taking extra precautions on top of what health officials recommend to keep their staff and travellers safe

5 Feb 2020 - 10:05AM

Flight attendants pass out health forms to passengers on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Rome on January 31. Photo: AP

Coronavirus: Delta’s last US-China flights will now fly this weekend

Delta had planned to end all China flights by February 6. The airline said the last China-bound flights will now leave on Saturday and the last returning flights from China will depart China on Sunday.

15 Feb 2020 - 12:49AM