The European Union banned Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from operating in its airspace following two recent crashes of the popular jet.

Southwest Airlines will soon begin low-cost service to Hawaii from California March 17, 2019, after receiving FAA approval to operate long overwater flights.

On January 25, travel-related issues brought a temporary end to the partial government shutdown. How? The simple answer—the shutdown was affecting the performance of air travel.

Air traffic controller sickouts related to the government shutdown at three major Northeast airport hubs are greatly affecting arriving flights, according to news reports, resulting in the rerouting of flights. The sickouts are causing significant flight delays at the following airports: LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport.

As the U.S. government shutdown continues, one of the major issues that could have an increasingly detrimental impact on travel safety and convenience is Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers calling out from work. The situation has the potential to leave passengers dealing with longer lines at TSA checkpoints and possibly less security restrictions should the problem ensue.

On October 1, 2020, current driver’s licenses in 27 U.S. states will no longer be valid to board a domestic commercial airline flight in the U.S. California rolled out its Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses January 2, 2019. The new driver’s license costs $35 and a new identification card costs $30.

United Airlines announced that it will begin service to and from the Hilton Head Island Airport in South Carolina, starting spring 2019. American Airlines began service in and out of the airport in July 2018.

As the east coast prepares for Hurricane Florence to make landfall, airlines have issued waivers for travelers ahead of the storm and cruise lines announced reroutes of some ships earlier this week. The storm is forecasted to bring heavy winds of up to 130 miles an hour and flooding of up to 35 inches to North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Georgia and Virginia.

Travel costs are expected to rise in 2019, with hotel prices rising 3.7% and flight prices increasing 2.6%, according to the Global Travel Forecast, published by Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) with the support of the Carlson Family Foundation. This fifth annual report, which was released on July 24, 2018, cites a growing global economy and rising oil prices as the drive behind this predicted rise.

Here are some create-your-own-silver-lining frequent flyer tips to help your attendees make the best of their unintentional detours on the way to the big meeting, event or conference—they may even be able to escape the airport for a bit!