Travel

CNN reports: Airlines in multiple countries have suspended the use of Boeing’s new 737 MAX 8 aircraft over concerns about its safety, after an Ethiopian Airlines flight of the same model crashed Sunday killing all 157 people on board. Flight ET302 to Nairobi had just taken off from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa Sunday when it reported technical problems …

NBC News reports: In two years, the European Union will begin implementing a new travel visa as a requirement for U.S. citizens and citizens from 59 other countries to enter. The EU cited concerns over illegal migration and terrorism as the reasons for the increased security measures. Currently, Americans traveling to Europe for 90 days or less don’t need a …

NY 1 reports: Yellow taxis are both an iconic symbol of New York City and the mode of transportation of choice for many commuters. But those sitting behind the wheel and in the backseat of these cabs are coming to terms with their new, costlier reality. A congestion pricing surcharge for all for-hire vehicles traveling through some parts of Manhattan …

The New York Daily News reports: A communications failure sparked a hijacking scare on a JetBlue flight at JFK Airport on Tuesday, setting off a frenzy from first responders over what turned out to be a false alarm. JetBlue Flight 1623, an Airbus 320 bound for Los Angeles, lost contact with the air traffic control tower while taxiing for takeoff …

The Associated Press reports: Monday’s deadly Amtrak train derailment appears to have been caused by an object on the railway, according to a government official briefed on the crash. A preliminary investigation suggests maintenance problems are unlikely to blame because the incident took place on brand-new tracks, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. At least six …

Yup. I’m presently in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain thanks to my longtime buddy Aaron, who surprised me a few weeks ago with a gift trip to accompany him before his vacation days from the company he calls “the algorithm” evaporate at the end of the year. I told Aaron that the Canary Islands were not remotely on my list of …

NBC News reports: A massive fire caused a bridge to collapse Thursday night on Interstate 85 in Atlanta, one of the busiest stretches of roadway in America, backing up rush hour traffic for several miles and creating what the mayor called a long-term “transportation crisis.” The huge fire was reported at 6:21 p.m. ET underneath the bridge on the northbound …

By coincidence, today was O’Hare’s fire drill day and they’d issued social media messages telling people not to worry if they saw anything unusual. DNA Info reports: A harrowing scene played out at O’Hare Airport Friday afternoon after an American Airlines flight caught fire on a runway, forcing 170 people to flee the plane on inflated slides as huge flames …

As you can see, the design echoes the original Penn, which was demolished to continuing lament over 50 years ago. Curbed New York reports: Brace yourselves, New Yorkers: a new Penn Station is officially coming—for real this time. Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled plans for the forthcoming Pennsylvania Station-Farley Complex, along with announcing the developers and builders who will collaborate …

NBC News reports: Tens of thousands of Delta passengers around the world were grounded indefinitely Monday after a power outage caused a system-wide computer failure. Check-in systems, airport screens and even the airline’s website and smartphone apps are affected by the problem, which began at 2:38 a.m. ET. The Atlanta-based airline suspended departures until the problem can be fixed, while …

The Telegraph reports: Approximately 50,000 British holidaymakers currently in Florida should avoid unprotected sex for the rest of the summer holidays because of the risk from Zika virus, according to government advice. An outbreak of four mosquito-transmitted cases yesterday prompted Public Health England (PHE) to advise pregnant women to consider postponing non-essential travel to the southern US state. But for …

Because some idiot walked away from his suitcase. Gothamist reports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports are tightening security today, following yesterday’s suicide bombing at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport that left 41 dead and over 230 injured. So far, the Port Authority has sent armored trucks loaded with tactical weapons to patrol outside area airports, and JFK’s Terminal 5 was briefly shut …

Via Bloomberg: Downtown Manhattan got a new architectural landmark on Thursday. Was it worth it? Well, that’s a more complicated story. Architect Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub opened with an afternoon ceremony to a trickle of commuters and a flood of controversy. (“Functionally vapid,” a “boondoggle” that “wows rather than elevates” have been some of the harsher critiques.) …

Via press release: VICELAND, VICE’s new TV network, launched the first trailer for GAYCATION, a brand new series hosted by Ellen Page and Ian Daniel. Ellen and her best friend Ian set off on a personal journey to explore LGBTQ cultures around the world. From Japan to Brazil, Jamaica to America, they discover the multiplicity of LGBTQ experiences, meeting amazing …

The Hill reports: Airline passengers in five states and a U.S. territory will be unable to present their current driver’s licenses at airport checkpoints after Jan. 22, 2018, under new rules announced on Friday by the Department of Homeland Security. The Homeland Security department, which overseas the TSA, said it would begin enforcing a post-Sept. 11 law that directs federal …