And other news from the week.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: American Airlines launched its longer flight; Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport dramatically increased prices; and a man attacked a passenger on a United flight.
Dive into these and more as we explore the week’s most intriguing travel news.
AMERICAN AIRLINES OPERATES ITS LONGEST FLIGHT
Last week, American Airlines operated its longest non-stop flight, which traveled from Dallas, Texas, to Brisbane, Australia, covering 8,300 miles in 16 hours. It was one of the most tracked flights in the world and was live-streamed by Brisbane Airport. The landmark flight landed 33 minutes early, and the passengers—numbers were not revealed by the airline—received a stuffed koala, a voucher for the Brisbane Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and a postcard.
The route was announced in February, and American Airlines will now run five flights a week in each direction before launching a daily service from December to March.
AMSTERDAM AIRPORT RAISES AIRLINE FEES
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is sharply increasing airline fees by 41% next year. The causes are inflation and high interest rates, and the airport is also trying to recover losses incurred during the pandemic. Additionally, noisy flights and those that operate at night will have to pay the most.
The airport wants to improve its infrastructure, and this increase will help fund investments in services. Robert Carsouw, the chief financial officer of the Royal Schiphol Group, said, “This sharp increase in charges is necessary to invest in the desired quality and sustainability at Schiphol, to improve services to airlines and passengers, and to provide decent working conditions for all people working at Schiphol.”
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National carrier KLM isn’t happy about this move. It called the rise “unreasonable” and “unwise,” predicting that the costs will be passed on to travelers. The airline’s CEO said in a statement that this increase poses a risk for the hub and the economy. “Schiphol shifts additional costs of setbacks and budget overruns largely to the traveler. More expensive tickets are inevitable if you increase airport charges so drastically.”
UNITED AIRLINES PASSENGER PUNCHES SLEEPING CO-PASSENGER
In a disturbingly violent event, a man on a United Airlines flight punched another passenger randomly and unprovoked. The incident happened two hours into a flight from San Francisco to Washington Dulles last week.
Everett Chad Nelson was walking to his seat after using the lavatory when he attacked a sleeping passenger in another row, presumably unknown to him. He punched the victim and bloodied his nose before other passengers restrained him. It was later discovered that the victim was deaf and non-verbal and used sign language and typing on his phone to communicate with the crew.
Nelson was arrested upon landing at Dulles and is in jail pending trial in December. All reports indicate that the victim did not know the perpetrator.
Related: This Is What You Need to Do if There’s an Unruly Passenger on Your Flight
FLOODS IN SPAIN KILL OVER 200
The eastern part of Spain—particularly the province of Valencia—suffered devastating flash floods last week. Over 200 people have reportedly died, but around 1,300 are still unaccounted for, making this one of the deadliest weather events in the country. Extreme weather events have increased around the world in recent years, and this historic rainfall has been linked to climate change as well.
Videos of cars washing away in the floodwaters have shocked the internet. Pictures also show how the rains altered the coast, inundating inland areas, wiping out bridges, and turning streets into mud swathes. Rescue efforts in towns shattered by the autumn rains are underway, but locals are blaming the authorities for failing to send alerts in time and warn them about the catastrophe.
VOLCANO IN INDONESIA KILLS 10
On the popular tourist island of Flores in Indonesia, the 1,700-meter (5,577-foot) Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted on Sunday night. The volcano belched smoke that rose up to 300 meters (980 feet) and triggered a series of earthquakes that killed at least 10 people. Authorities are warning of more earthquakes and lava floods in the coming days.
The volcanic eruption has impacted more than 10,000 people in the nearby villages. The nearest airport in Maumere has been closed, and the government has declared an emergency for the next 58 days.