Air Travel | featured news

Global air travel demand growth will slow again this year, but freight markets will recover from a decline in 2012, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday.

On Jan. 24, the Transportation Department will enforce a rule requiring that any advertised price for air travel include all taxes and government fees.

The global accident rate for January through November was 22% better than a year earlier.

Last week, the Department of Transportation released a slew of new rules that will affect the air travel experience. One of the more interesting changes? Getting bumped is now going to get you a lot more money than before.

The snowstorm that slammed the deep South and churned its way into the Northeast is causing similar headaches for travelers. Travel in and out of New York and Boston was limited Wednesday morning.

Delta, AMR and US Airways attributed the result to higher ticket prices and a rebound in air travel.

Summer vacation just got more expensive, as the five largest U.S. airlines introduced "peak air travel surcharges" virtually every day while school is out for much of the country.

European air traffic could return to about 50 percent of normal levels Monday if weather forecasts confirm that skies over half the continent are emptying of the volcanic ash that has thrown global travel into chaos, the European Union said.

The prospects for a return to normal air travel remained far from clear, however.

Air travel competition is heating up, and we're not talking about corporate profits and losses here. As airlines reduce flights and use smaller planes, passengers sometimes are jostling for storage space for their carry-on items.

It's inescapable: Airlines have been imposing fees left and right for checked baggage and oversize items, so taking your skis on the plane will be more expensive than in years past. So, should you rent or take your own? Richard Savage, vice president of marketing and business development with tour company Ski Operators, offers some suggestions to help you decide.