American Airlines adds international flights in preparation for 2026 FIFA World Cup
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Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Passenger Boards Business Class Flight—Not Prepared for Unexpected Neighbor
United's Polaris class is considered its top-tier international business class product, featuring lie-flat seats, direct aisle access, and upgraded dining and amenities. It's also the kind of cabin where, increasingly, more travelers are willing to spend money for a premium experience—instrument cases included. Back in October 2022, American Airlines announced it would be removing first-class seating from its international long-haul fleet entirely. Vasu Raja, then the airline's chief commercial officer, explained the decision during a call with investors, saying "first class will not American Airlines for the simple reason that our customers aren't buying it," CNN reported at the time. "The quality of the business class seat has improved so much. And frankly, by removing [first class] we can go provide more business class seats, which is what our customers most want or are most willing to pay for," Raja said at the time. Delta Air Lines and United have followed similar trends, reportedly cutting their first-class seat offerings by nearly half over the last decade or so. At the same time, they've poured investment into upgraded business class products, betting that demand for comfort, privacy, and onboard service is stronger in the business tier. The Reddit post also arrives as commercial air travel rebounds, with high load factors and steady increases in international demand. In a June report, the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) noted that total air travel demand was up five percent in May compared to the same month in 2024. It was a record-setting month for international load factors—the percentage of available seats filled by paying passengers. "Air travel demand growth was uneven in May. Globally, the industry reported 5 percent growth with Asia-Pacific taking the lead at 9.4 percent. The outlier was North America, which reported a 0.5 percent decline, led by a 1.7 percent fall in the U.S. domestic market," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. Despite the dip in domestic travel, Walsh added that "airlines maintain safe operations with minimal passenger inconvenience" even amid disruptions and instability in some regions. As for passengers choosing to fly instruments in premium cabins, United, like many airlines, allows travelers to purchase an extra seat for oversized or fragile items such as cellos or guitars. It's a policy often used by professional musicians who don't want to risk checking delicate gear into the hold. According to United's website, the item must be properly secured and cannot exceed specific weight and dimension limits. In this case, the instrument's placement in business class—and the humor it inspired—was enough to strike a chord with a neighboring passenger. "Didn't get up once," the original poster wrote. "Kept their seatbelt on 100 percent of the time." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system. A stock image of business class seating on a plane. A stock image of business class seating on a plane. Getty Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Epoch Times
13 hours ago
- Epoch Times
American Airlines Announces 5 New Long-Haul Routes to Europe for Next Summer
American Airlines has announced that it will add five new long-haul routes to Europe for the summer 2026 travel season, including the only nonstop service from the United States to Budapest, Hungary. The expansion was detailed in an Aug. 7 press release and includes new seasonal flights from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, Czech Republic, along with additional service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Zurich and the Greek capital of Athens. Year-round service from Miami to Milan will also launch next March. All five routes are set to launch between late March and late May 2026.
Politico
14 hours ago
- Politico
An Olympics-sized lobbying initiative
With Daniel Lippman NEXT SUMMER OF SPORTS: The U.S. Travel Association is looking forward to tens of millions of foreign visitors coming to the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. But the group is raising concerns about a new cost that those travelers will have to contend with thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill. — Under the new law, the Department of Homeland Security must start charging visa applicants a $250 fee at the time their application is approved. The fee will be revised annually to keep up with inflation, meaning it could be higher by the time of the 2028 Olympic games. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fee would raise around $28.9 billion over the next decade. — 'This is the exact wrong time for the United States to charge $250 for every new visa,' said Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations for the Travel Association. 'We're on the cusp of probably the most pivotal year in the American travel industry's history.' — 'I think the administration has the opportunity not to implement it, particularly ahead of these historic events, so we're urging the administration to do that,' he added. — Today, the travel industry group announced the launch of the America's Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition, a new effort to support the president's focus on the mega sporting events and urge administration officials to delay implementation of the visa fee or lean on Congress to remove it altogether. Monument Advocacy, which has worked with the U.S. Travel Association since 2006, will lead the coalition's lobbying efforts. — 'The No. 1 concern about coming to the United States is often cost,' Hansen said. 'And so if the visa integrity fee would be put in place, we would be one of the most expensive countries to visit in terms of how much it costs to get a visa.' — The coalition, which includes Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), American Airlines and others, also plans to push for increased U.S. consular staffing and expanded hours of operation to make the visa process more efficient, Hansen said. — 'Customs is going to be another issue,' he added. 'When we have millions of international visitors arriving at our airports within a very focused period of time, we can't welcome the world by making them wait in line for two, three or four hours.' Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. This is your new regular co-host Daniel B. and I'm looking forward to hearing more from all you fine people. Caitlin isn't going anywhere so be sure to send your tips to both of us at dbarnes@ and coprysko@ We're on Signal at danielbarnes.13 and caitlinoprysko.17 and on X at @dnlbrns and @caitlinoprysko. FIRST IN PI — Oil trader Niels Troost on Thursday sued strategic intelligence firm The Arkin Group for defamation for public statements they've made on behalf of Troost's former business partner, Gaurav Srivastava, the Indian American businessperson who had donations to Democrats last year frozen or returned after allegations he had posed as a CIA spy, Daniel L. reports. — The lawsuit alleges that the firm, founded by former top CIA official Jack Devine, and managing director Victoria Kataoka have waged a 'vicious, unfounded disinformation campaign against Mr. Troost on behalf of their client, Gaurav Srivastava.' — During a panel on disinformation last year at a conference in London, Kataoka said that Troost 'create[d] a big and bold lie' and 'a very sexy fiction' that Srivastava was 'a fake spy.' She repeated the claims in a podcast, saying he created an 'incredibly well developed and expertly designed ... disinformation campaign' with a 'very shiny ... sexy fake spy story.' She also accused Troost of lying that Srivastava is 'a con man.' — 'As a respected firm founded by a former acting head of the CIA, The Arkin Group should have known better than to parrot Srivastava's story without regard for the stacks of evidence, public reporting, and witnesses that were readily available when they were doing it,' Troost's lawyer Jason Masimore, a former federal prosecutor with Brodbecks Law PLLC, said in a statement to PI. — 'This is particularly true since the evidence presented, including sworn witness statements, shows that Srivastava has presented a threat to U.S. national security by posing as a CIA operative in front of world leaders and gaining direct access to top U.S. leaders.' — Devine, the CEO of the Arkin Group, pushed back on the lawsuit in a statement to PI. — 'The Arkin Group looks forward to the truth coming out through the U.S. legal system concerning Mr. Troost — a wealthy European oil trader who is sanctioned by UK, EU, and Swiss authorities for being 'involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia,'' he said. — 'Through the lawsuit he has initiated, Mr. Troost, a public figure, will be required to present evidence under oath, through depositions, interrogatories, and admissions, which will shed light on the extent of his relationships and involvement with the government of the Russian Federation which, fundamentally, in our view, continues to be what this matter is about.' — Kataoka and Srivastava didn't respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Srivastava declined to comment. DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: The owner of a biotech company that donated $5 million to a pro-Trump super PAC was able to lobby the president to delay implementation of a Joe Biden-era plan that would have limited Medicare reimbursement for 'skin substitute' bandages. — During a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Extremity Care founder Oliver Burckhardt, criticized Biden for having 'rammed through a policy that would create more suffering and death for diabetic patients on Medicare' and presented Trump with a copy of a flier the president later posted on Truth Social, Kenneth Vogel, Sarah Kliff and Katie Thomas report in The New York Times. — 'About one month later, the Trump administration announced it would delay until next year the Biden administration plan to limit Medicare's coverage of the bandages, known as skin substitutes, saying that it was reviewing its policies.' — 'It is not unusual for deep-pocketed interests to use political donations to try to win access, but Mr. Trump's hands-on participation in a fund-raising operation for a group devoted to him is unique for second-term presidents barred from running for re-election. It has created an opportunity for fund-raisers and lobbyists to boost their standing with Mr. Trump while advancing their clients' interests.' CHAMBER GOES BIG AND BEAUTIFUL: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce aims to sell the One Big, Beautiful Bill to the American public by holding 100 roundtable discussions about tax cuts and incentives in the new law, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. — 'Republican strategists want to avoid the mistakes made during Trump's first term, when strategists now believe they didn't do enough to sell Trump's landmark 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act before the 2018 midterm election…Some early polling shows that Americans have a largely negative view of the law after Democrats spent months highlighting cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cuts that led some Republicans such as Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine) to vote against it.' — 'The Chamber has partnered with state and local chambers of commerce to convene lawmakers and local-business owners around the country to talk about popular but overlooked provisions of the law. … It has already held more than 40 roundtable discussions about the bill's benefits with members of the Senate and House, and plans to hold a total of 100 such events.' EYES ON ANTITRUST: 'Politically-connected lobbyists and lawyers' are inserting themselves into the Justice Department's antitrust investigations leading to confrontations with the division's leaders, Dave Michaels and Annie Linskey report for the Wall Street Journal. — Companies facing antitrust investigations — Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Live Nation and American Express GBT among them — have hired various Trump-world figures like Mike Davis, Brian Ballard, Arthur Schwartz, Will Levi and Nick Iarossi, who appear to be delivering for their clients. — 'Gail Slater, the department's top antitrust enforcer, has pushed back on the infusion of lobbyists into her world, but appears under siege by Trump loyalists inside and outside of the administration. Slater, who was picked by Trump for the role, saw her two top deputies fired last week after they challenged the terms of the favorable settlement that HPE negotiated with officials in Attorney General Pam Bondi's office. … Slater and the two fired deputies had objected to HPE's use of Davis and other politically connected lawyers to negotiate the settlement, people familiar with the matter said. Those comments got back to Davis and others, prompting them to complain about her leadership.' CALL HER MOMMY: Former Trump aide turned Elon Musk aide Katie Miller announced the launch of a new podcast aimed at conservative women. The podcast won't only cover politics, Miller told Axios, but is intended to be 'a place for conservative women to gather online.' — Miller and her husband, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, operated as the power couple of Trump's Washington until she left her role as a special government employee in May along with Musk. —'Miller said in an interview that her husband, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, is 'incredibly supportive' of her new enterprise, and has even pitched in to wrangle guests.' SPOTTED: BGR Group's Nick Iarossi at a million dollar-a-plate quarterly fundraising dinner for MAGA Inc. last Friday night at Bedminster headlined by President Donald Trump, two PI tipsters told Daniel L. His appearance at the fundraiser surprised another attendee, a person in Trump's orbit, since Iarossi was such a big supporter of Ron DeSantis, whose presidential campaign he was the national finance co-chair for. — Iarossi, who remains close to DeSantis, has been a major supporter of Trump ever since DeSantis dropped out. He declined to comment. Jobs report — FleishmanHillard has appointed Rachel Catanach as global managing director, corporate affairs. Michael Moroney, senior partner in the agency's Washington office, has also been promoted to managing director, corporate affairs, Americas. — Jamie Logan has been promoted from manager to director, state government affairs for the American Cleaning Institute. — Cindy Nichols has been elected as the new vice chair of Airports Council International. She currently serves as the director of airports for Sacramento County, CA. — Annika Olson joins Americans for Responsible Innovation as director of government affairs. She was previously political and legislative representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. New Joint Fundraisers A Joint Fundraising Vehicle (Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Democracy Mobilization Project PAC, Mark Burns For US Congress, Fair Future NC) New PACs Red Peaks PAC (Super PAC) Standing Together For Utah (Super PAC) Citizens For Carroll Cares Campaign (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Arentfox Schiff LLP: Medallia, Inc. Blue Tusk Communications: Let Experienced Pilots Fly Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Now Continental Strategy, LLC: Vivex Biologics Etherton And Associates, Inc.: Onebrief, Inc. Francis Edward & Cronin, Inc.: Lewy Body Dementia Association Mcdermott+ LLC: Stationmd Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Risepoint, LLC Mr. Robert L. Redding Jr.: National Watermelon Association Net Centric Alliance LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Obo Eptura, Inc. Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Embraer Aircraft Holdings, Inc Steptoe LLP: Ameripen Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Assured Space Access, Inc. New Lobbying Terminations Ballard Partners: Shein Technology LLC Bluewater Strategies: Centrus (Fka USec Inc.) Bluewater Strategies: North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition Bluewater Strategies: Olivenhain Municipal Water District Bob Riley & Associates, LLC: Next Step Specialty Pharmacy Carlyle Consulting: Miccosukee Tribe Of Indians Of Florida Government Relations Group, LLC: Curated Investments Health Equality Campaign Inc.: Health Equality Campaign I Street Advocates: Fuse Media, Inc. (Formerly Known As Sitv, Inc.) Paul Hastings LLP: Blockchains Inc. Paul Hastings LLP: Panama Colon Container Port, Inc. Paul Hastings LLP: Star Scientific, Inc. Thunderbird Strategic LLC: Indian Land Tenure Foundation Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Cognitive Space Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Ensemble Government Services, LLC Vitello Consulting: Conservation Logistics, LLC Vitello Consulting: Fortune Metal Group, LLC Vitello Consulting: Hudson Valley Fisheries
