Airports across the country are dealing wiht the fallout of having federal workers being forced to show up and work without pay and, now, the chaos and confusion cause by the FAA-mandated reduction in flights.
But there are still fresh airport amenities to celebrate.
Like this charming new spot on Concourse B at Albany International Airport (ALB) called the Adirondack Imaginarium Family Play Space.
Develeoped with the Wild Center at Tupper Lake and featuring the creative work of artists Gracelee Lawrence and David Fadden, the play space is a cheery, regionally-themed spot for families to hang out.
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation announced a decision to reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 “high-volume” markets across the country starting Friday.
Unless, that is, the government shutdown concludes before then.
Which could be a stretch.
The FAA didn’t say which markets would be affected, but not long after the announcement, airlines began sharing how they planned to respond to the directive.
“United’s long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in the memo, “Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs.”
He added that customers traveling during this period will be eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly – even if their flight isn’t impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation have directed every airline, across 40 U.S. airports, to meaningfully reduce their schedules during the government shutdown. The goal is to relieve pressure on the national aviation system to keep us…
“While we are awaiting additional information from the FAA to determine which flights will be impacted, we expect the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected. As schedule changes are made, we will proactively reach out to customers who are impacted,” the airline said on Wednesday evening.
Due to the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide air traffic control staffing shortages, the FAA has directed airlines to reduce flight schedules to maintain safe airspace operations starting Friday, Nov. 7.
We expect the vast majority of customers’ travel will proceed as…
Southwest Airlines said it is evaluating how the planned FAA flight reductions will affect its schedule. “We know that these FAA-imposed cancellations can impact an important moment in your life. We appreciate your understanding,” the airline said in a statement.
Other airlines are making plans as well and we’ll no doubt learn a lot more on Thursday.
In the meantime if, like us, you have a flight scheduled in the next few days, keep an eye on your inbox, your airline app and on the news.
A giant taco made from balloons is a wonderful object to encounter anywhere. Let alone an airport. Thank you, San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) for ‘hosting’ the taco and comedian/actor Patton Oswalt for adoring it.
Airports – and a cheese company – helping unpaid federal workers
A production hiccup at Oregon’s beloved Tillamook cheese factory turned into a cheddary windfall for the 800 federal workers on duty without pay at Portland International Airport (PDX).
After discovering that 1,000 of their premium 2lb cheddar blocks were mislabeled, but still perfectly fine to eat, the Tillamook company generouly donated the cheese to Port of Portland employees.
Tillamook delivered cheese to the Port of Portland and it was placed in the Donation Distribution Center for pickup from the Port employees. Tillamook reps say they also be will also be donating Cream Cheese and Yogurt to the Donation Center in the coming week.
Meanwhile, airports continue their support efforts for federal workers
Amazing turnout today for our donation drive for federal workers! Thank you to everyone who donated! pic.twitter.com/O3JD7Xm1Vg
— West Virginia International Yeager Airport (@flycrw) November 4, 2025
ICYMI: We continue to collect donations for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. 📅 11/04-11/07 📍MCO Terminal C Departures Curb ⏰ 9am-2pm 📍 Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) ⏰ 9am-5pm Donations are also accepted at the departure level of Terminals A, B, & C. pic.twitter.com/GJsYPLb1KR
If you’d like to help, donations of nonperishable food and essential items are welcome at the SEA Conference Center lobby on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. pic.twitter.com/tSkcwQKNPB
(“Mercury Zero Summer Glut” 1987, courtesy Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)
October 22 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of postmodern artist Robert Rauschberg, who died in 2008 and this year there are wide range of exhibitions and activities to mark the centennial.
One of those is Smithsonian Books’ publication of The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight, written by Carolyn Russo, who is the curator of the art collection at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Rauschenberg is most famous for his groundbreaking “Combines,” which are painting and sculpture hybrids that often incorporated everyday objects and a connective tissue through it all was his fascination with flight.
Throughout his body of work, Rauschenberg skillfully intertwined himself thematically with the subject of flight—spanning birds in nature, aviation, and the vastness of space,” Russo writes.
Her book includes more than 150 images of Rauschenberg’s work, from lithographs inspired by the Apollo 11 launch that NASA invited him to witness and document, to a Combine featuring a taxidermied eagle that evokes Roman mythology.
The work spans 16 feet by 12 feet, includes 400 vertical strands holding 3,200 elements, and fills the high bay triangular area across from Gate 15 in the main AUS Barbara Jordan Terminal.
Quilt exhibit at MIA Airport
(Courtesy of MIA Galleries, Miami International Airport)
On display through March 9, 2026, the exhibition features large-scale, sewn and quilted artwork by local artist Regina Durante Jestrow, who uses repurposed fabrics from Miami and other locations.
Founder Tony Caldwell is taking his private collection public, with a display of more than 20 classic aircraft, including several from Caldwell’s own assortment and others on loan from various private collections.
Notable among Caldwell’s aircraft are several Waco biplanes, originally manufactured from 1920 through the end of the 1940s, which were the best-selling civilian biplanes in the U.S. at the time.
Another standout in the collection is a Stearman PT-17 on loan from Waldo Wright’s Flying Service out of Florida. The 1942 trainer is piloted by its owner, Waldo “Rob” Wright. Wright runs the on-site Waldo Wright Restoration Shop. The shop serves as both a workspace and a living exhibit, allowing visitors the chance to watch the antique revitalization process firsthand.
The collection, along with a restoration shop, a café, and a small library, is housed within a 30,000-square-foot, fully restored 1943 WWII hangar at El Reno Regional Airport.
Las Vegas is synonymous with lots of things, most notably neon.
And the city’s Neon Museum has saved and now celebrates the neon signs of the past in a wonderful outdoor site.
One of the newest additions is a sign for the entrance of the Dunes Hotel and Casino, which opened in Las Vegas in 1955, was hailed as the “Miracle in the Desert” and offered extravagant shows, luxurious dining and over-the-top amenities.
(Exterior of the Dunes Hotel and Casino at night in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 5, 1958. Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau.)
The Dunes Hotel closed in 1993 and was imploded to make way for an even more extravagant hotel, The Bellagio.
Now the restored Dunes entrance sign is on view at the Neon Museum, which includes an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard; the North Gallery, home to the immersive audiovisual experience “Brilliant! Jackpot” which uses technology to re-illuminate more than 40 non- operational signs; the Boulevard Gallery outdoor exhibit and event space; and its visitors’ center inside the former La Concha Motel lobby.
The museum’s collection also includes 15 restored signs displayed as public art in downtown Las Vegas.
Love beer? Here’s what happens to harvested hops
We took a tour of the Morrier Ranch hops farm in Yakima, Washington to see what happens to hops once they’re harvested from the field.
Yakima farms produce about 75% of the country’s hops and October 4 is Yakima’s Fresh Hop Ale Festival, a beer festival timed to the hop harvest that includes music, food and fresh hop beers using hops just off the vine.
You’d think that after hiring the best architects and builders and spending billions of dollars, a new airport terminal would be ready to spring into action when the work is done.
But before flights begin to come and go from a new terminal, airports usually run a dress rehearsal day with volunteers pretending to be passengers.
Why ask fake passengers to test airport terminals?
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is putting the finishing touches on a new $1.7 billion terminal set to open in October. Architectural and engineering firms Gensler, HDR and Luis Vidal + Architects designed the terminal and all systems and areas have been completed and rigorously tested.
“But construction and operational readiness aren’t equal,” Daniel Bryan, the consultant leading PIT’s operational readiness and transition team, said. Before the official opening date can be set and announced, PIT is conducting two public trial days, or dress rehearsals, where volunteers act as passengers to help make sure everything — and everyone — is truly ready for the big day.
The first terminal-wide test took place Saturday, Sept. 20, and included about 1,000 of the 18,000 people who responded to the airport’s initial call-out for volunteers.
Pretend passengers traveling on a pretend peak travel day were asked to do all the things real passengers do when they travel from the curb to the gate — checking bags, skis and golf clubs, going through the security checkpoint and finding their gate.
“This will be the first time we’ll see the building come alive,” Bryan said, so the team planned to check the acoustics, the public address system levels, signage and more. The test day was also a day for airport staff to do a run-through for the first day.
San Diego International Airport’s new terminal
It was the same story at San Diego International Airport (SAN) on Sept. 14. Opening day for is Sept. 23 for the $3.8 billion Terminal 1 designed by Gensler in partnership with Turner-Flatiron.
All went well, with adjustments planned in response to feedback that the paging system was too loud in some areas and not loud enough in others, and that better signage was needed for the outdoor dining deck and the oversized baggage belt.
What did Kansas City International Airport learn from its test?
All systems worked well, said airport spokesman Justin Meyer, and in response to volunteer feedback, the airport ordered more hefty paper towels for the restrooms.
Then there was the problem of test day volunteers missing their fake flights because they were spending too much time checking out the terminal.
Airports can sometimes be crowded and frustrating spaces, but they can also be pleasant places to hang out.
And, thanks to a bevy of recently completed airport capital improvement projects, with more on the way, travelers are increasingly satifisied and “enjoying the experience” at the nation’s airports, according to the J.D. Power 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released today.
The study found that overall passenger satisfaction scores are up 10 points (on a 1,000-point scale) this year, driven largely by improvements in food, beverage and retail and ease of travel through the airport.
“A decades long trend of bringing unique, local flavor to the passenger experience has positively impacted the airport experience with these local touches having a major influence on passenger satisfaction,” said Michael Taylor, managing director of travel, hospitality and retail at J.D. Power.
Here are the top rankings.
[Mega airports are defined by J.D. Power as those with 33 million or more passengers per year; large airports with 10 to 32.9 million passengers per year; and medium airports with 4.5 to 9.9 million passengers per year. Rankings are on a scale of 1000 points.]
Mega Airports
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ranks highest in passenger satisfaction among mega airports for a second consecutive year with a score of 660.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (649) ranks second.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (634) ranks third.
Large Airports
John Wayne Airport, Orange County ranks highest among large airports for a second consecutive year, with a score of 730.
Tampa International Airport (709) ranks second.
Dallas Love Field (705) ranks third.
Medium Airports
Indianapolis International Airport ranks highest among medium airports for a fourth consecutive year, with a score of 713.
Ontario International Airport (709) ranks second.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (698) ranks third.
September is not only Bourbon Heritage Month, but it evidently also marks one year since the launch of ROW 94 Whiskey, founded by country music singer and songwriter Dierks Bentley.
To mark the month, Bentley and his bourbon teamed up with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) to install a life-sized Dierks hologram in the airport’s post-security rotunda area.
The hologram welcomes travelers to Louisville, tells them the story of the ROW 94 whiskey and directs them to the airport’s District Distillery Marketplace, where signed and limited-edition bottles are available for purchase.
To celebrate the two-month promotion, on Friday, September 12, the real Dierks beamed in live to SDF from Nashville and gave away a guitar, so no doubt there were plenty of passengers doing double takes.
This morning travelers at SDF got a surprise ✨🍹 Country music superstar Dierks Bentley made a special hologram appearance right here in SDF’s terminal to promote his @Row94Whiskey. 🥃✈️ Guests were able to see the one-of-a-kind technology up close — making for a unique start… pic.twitter.com/MKFd8CbrdM
