May/June 2025 Travel News: Airline Updates and Global Tourism Trends

May & June 2025 Travel News

Ready to spark ideas for your next adventure or just stay in the know? In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher break down the most relevant travel headlines from May & June 2025—no fluff, just real-world updates and thoughtful insights for curious travelers.

Airline & Transit News

• Newark Airport is expected to return to normal operations by October, easing travel in and out of the NYC area. (https://www.newser.com/story/369835/faa-says-newark-airport-should-be-ok-by-october.html)

• Summer 2025 airfare is trending 10% cheaper than last year—good news if you’ve been eyeing a trip but waiting for the right deal. (https://thepointsguy.com/news/summer-of-saving/)

• United and JetBlue have launched the Blue Sky Partnership, and JetBlue is also teaming up with Florida’s Brightline rail for smoother connections. (https://www.cnbc.com/amp/select/united-airlines-jetblue-blue-sky-partnership/ https://thepointsguy.com/news/jetblue-brightline-air-rail-partnership/)

• Delta faced backlash for charging solo travelers more—then backpedaled. (https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/u-s-airlines-caught-charging-solo-passengers-more/)

• Turkey is cracking down on travelers standing up before the plane stops. (https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/fine-for-standing-up-on-planes-too-early/)

• IndiGo (India’s low-cost carrier) is expanding US routes via Delta, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic partnerships. (https://thepointsguy.com/news/indigo-airline-india-us-expansion/)

Wine Break
This week’s sip: Guarda Rios from Portugal. Christopher and Ashleigh talk about how it unexpectedly connects to their recent Mexico City series—where they spotted the namesake bird in the canals of Xochimilco.

U.S. Travel News

• US News Best Underrated Destinations in the US (https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/best-underrated-destinations-usa/)
• Disney World’s Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America to close in July https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2025/06/03/disney-world-tom-sawyer-island-rivers-america-cars/84012720007/

International Travel News

• Munich just took the top spot as the most walkable city in the world—perfect for those who love to explore on foot. (https://www.travelandleisure.com/munich-germany-most-walkable-city-in-world-11721214)

• Spain is cracking down on unlicensed Airbnbs—66,000 listings removed. (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wdd8lg581o.amp)

• Nepal now requires climbers to summit a 7,000-meter peak before attempting Everest. (https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/04/28/travel/nepal-everest-permits-experienced-climbers-intl-hnk)

• Disney announced a brand-new theme park is coming to Abu Dhabi. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2025/05/07/disney-new-theme-park/83458415007/)