With a war raging in the Middle East, some people may forget that the U.S. is also undergoing a partial government shutdown. But not business travelers, who may find themselves at airports with much-longer-than usual wait times at TSA lines. TSA workers missed their first paychecks under the shutdown. And if that weren't enough of a hassle, Global Entry has been shuttered as well.
OK, these are relatively minor nuisances compared with road warriors who might be marooned in the UAE and other Gulf countries trying to get flights out of there, but these are certainly impediments to productive work days nonetheless. And with oil prices soaring, there will be plenty of airfare sticker shock to come, too.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Heathrow’s Flight Emissions Have Dropped 7%, Third Runway Closer Than Ever
by Darin Graham
March 6, 2026
The race is on to push Heathrow’s expansion plans through regulation and planning. But the airport’s case for a third runway relies heavily on sustainable aviation fuel and aviation still faces major challenges scaling the technology needed to decarbonize.
FAA Considers Reducing Flights at Chicago O’Hare After American and United Turf War
by Meghna Maharishi
February 27, 2026
After American and United significantly increased their schedules at O’Hare, the FAA is now looking to reduce flights at the airport this summer out of concern that the airport could face more strain.
ZS + SKIFT
89% of travel executives believe they need to diversify revenue streams — so why aren't they? This research report reveals the gap and how to close it.
SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK
In this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Seth Borko is joined by Skift Airlines Editor Gordon Smith to examine how escalating geopolitical tensions could ripple through the aviation industry.
They discuss the potential impact of airspace disruptions, how airlines prepare for geopolitical risk, and why oil prices and flight routing remain critical vulnerabilities for global aviation.
SKIFT RESEARCH | DATA
Market Performance
How are public travel companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to know to understand the market. Paid subscribers get full access here.
