Worries about the war with Iran sent oil prices back to $100 per barrel and stocks sinking worldwide. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Thursday and returned to big swings following a couple days of relative calm. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.8%. The center of action was again the oil market, where the price of a barrel of Brent crude got as high as $101.59. Treasury yields climbed in the bond market on worries about higher inflation and fewer cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve.
President Donald Trump says he's informed Venezuela's acting president that he'll open up all commercial airspace over Venezuela. And he says Americans will soon be able to visit. Trump said Thursday he instructed his transportation secretary and U.S. military leaders to open the airspace by the end of the day. Venezuela's government hasn't commented on Trump's announcement. American Airlines says it intends to reinstate nonstop service from the U.S. in the coming months. Earlier this week, Trump's Republican administration notified Congress it was taking steps to possibly reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Venezuela as it explores restoring relations following the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.
Southwest Airlines passengers are making their final boarding-time scrambles for seats as the carrier prepares to end its signature open-seating system. Customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats starting on Tuesday. The airline began selling tickets shaped by the new policy in July. New airfare tiers include the option of paying more to get a preferred seat closer to the front of a plane or seats with extra legroom. An eight‑group boarding structure is replacing the find-your-own-seat scrum. Southwest says the boarding groups are based on seat location, fare class, loyalty tier status and benefits from the airline's credit card rewards program.
On Jan. 21, 2020, the U.S. reported its first known case of the 2019 novel coronavirus circulating in China, saying a Washington state resident who had returned the previous week from the outbreak's epicenter was hospitalized near Seattle.
Travelers this Thanksgiving may still feel on edge after the historic government shutdown that caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. But experts say staying informed about weather, traffic, and airport wait times can help ease anxiety. The FAA is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with over 360,000 flights scheduled. And the TSA expects to screen more than 17.8 million people. Winter weather could impact major airports, so travelers should check forecasts regularly. Packing smartly and arriving early can also reduce stress. For road trips, AAA advises checking your car and avoiding peak traffic times.
By RIO YAMAT, JOSH FUNK and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
Airlines have canceled over 9,000 flights across the U.S. since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts late last week. The cuts aim to ease demands on short-staffed control towers during the federal government shutdown. On Tuesday, another 1,200 flights were canceled as the FAA increased its target for reducing flights at major airports. Flights are expected to remain disrupted even as the shutdown nears an end, and cancellations are unlikely to ease right away. The pace of airline ticket sales for Thanksgiving travel has slowed as more travelers have reconsidered whether to fly amid all the delays and cancellations.
Anxious travelers across the U.S. felt a bit of relief as airlines mostly stayed on schedule while gradually cutting flights because of the government shutdown. More than 800 flights were called off on Friday to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration's order to reduce service. Some passengers were forced make last-minute changes and rebook on different flights. Plenty of nervousness remained, as more canceled flights are expected in the coming days. Airports in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas led the way with the most disruptions, and long security lines added to travelers' woes. The upheaval will intensify the longer the shutdown lasts and could become chaotic if it extends into the Thanksgiving holiday, just weeks from now.
By JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT AP Transportation and Airlines Writers
The federal government shutdown has entered its second week, and already shortages of air traffic controllers have strained operations and disrupted flights at some U.S. airports. The situation may well get worse if the shutdown continues and employees start to miss paychecks. And there is no way to predict what airports might have problems on any given day. So be sure to check your flight's status before you head to the airport. If your flight is canceled, airlines will rebook you on a later flight. If you no longer want to take the trip, you should be able to get a refund. But each airline's policies can differ, and airlines are not required to pay cash compensation.
