January 2025 Travel News

In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh discuss the latest travel news from January 2025.

Airline News

• 3 more instances of people attempting to stowaway on aircraft: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/01/10/airline-stowaway-incidents-passenger-safety/77513734007/
• Passenger opens door during taxi at Boston Logan airport: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/01/08/passenger-opens-plane-door-boston-logan-airport/77539477007/ 
• The most turbulent domestic US flight routes in 2024 all flew over the Rockies:

  https://www.travelandleisure.com/most-turbulent-flight-routes-2024-8771077

• America Airlines Groundstop Causes Delays on Christmas Eve: https://www.travelandleisure.com/american-airlines-ground-stop-lifted-resumes-flights-8766260 
• JetBlue was fined $2 million by the Department of Transportation for chronically delayed flights:

  https://www.travelandleisure.com/jetblue-delayed-flights-fine-usd2-million-passengers-8768705

• Delta is ending its partnership with Lyft and joining with Uber instead:  https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Delta-starting-loyalty-program-partnership-with-Uber
• Silver Airways filed for bankruptcy despite adding new routes recently: https://travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Silver-Airways-Chapter-11-filing
• Avianca plans to add 5 more routes to Florida: 
• https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Avianca-plans-five-more-Florida-routes

US Travel News

• Congestion pricing requiring drivers to pay a fee to enter parts of Manhattan is now in effect in New York City: https://www.travelandleisure.com/nyc-congestion-pricing-plan-taxi-uber-lyft-8769694 
• Ski patrollers in Park City, Utah reached a contract agreement to end their strike: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/01/09/park-city-ski-patrol-contract-strike/77575521007/ 
• Wildfires have damaged attractions like the historic Topanga Ranch Motel in Los Angeles: https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/North-America-Travel/Los-Angeles-fires-close-attractions 

International Travel News

• The UK's new electronic travel authorization requirement goes into effect this week, costing travelers about $12: https://www.travelandleisure.com/uk-eta-fee-authorization-january-2025-8769833 
• The world's steepest cable car opened in Switzerland as part of a project connecting several mountain towns: 
• https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/12/16/switzerland-unveils-the-worlds-steepest-cable-car-leading-up-to-james-bond-revolving-resta
• Secret passageways built by the Medicis in Florence are now open to the public for tours: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/21/travel/vasari-corridor-secret-passageway-florence-italy/index.html 
• Taiwan launched a 6-month visa targeted at remote workers: https://www.travelandleisure.com/taiwan-digital-nomads-6-months-8768932 
• A new luxury tented camp is opening in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park: https://www.travelweekly.com/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/New-luxury-tented-camp-Serengeti-Tanzania-Wilderness-Collection 

Wine Break

Christopher and Ashleigh tried a Verdicchio wine from Italy's Veneto region. Christopher discussed principles of pairing wine with different foods like spicy, fatty, or sweet dishes. The Verdicchio went well with their tacos because the sweetness balanced the heat.