Emirates is introducing a new insurance product to guarantee passenger returns amid a slump in Middle East travel demand due to the prolonged conflict. The airline aims to alleviate concerns about being stranded abroad.
Spirit Airlines has collapsed, stranding passengers who had booked flights on the ultra low-cost carrier. Other airlines including American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Frontier and Southwest are offering rescue fares and reduced prices for affected travelers. Passengers can also seek refunds through credit card chargebacks and should contact their card companies under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations on Saturday, stranding thousands of passengers after 34 years of low-cost service. The airline went into orderly wind-down after government rescue talks failed, with the US government rejecting a $500m bailout proposal. Passengers face canceled bookings and expensive replacement fares, while Republicans and Democrats trade blame over the carrier's collapse, with the blocked JetBlue merger becoming a political football.
A severe hailstorm struck Kunming Changshui International Airport in southwestern China on Saturday, damaging aircraft and forcing flight cancellations. The storm affected over 110 aircraft, with visible damage to wings, cockpits and radomes. The airport operator described the weather as unusually severe convective weather with intensive thunderstorms and hail. Operations were still struggling to resume on Sunday.
A massive hailstorm hit Southwestern China's busiest airport on Saturday, grounding flights, damaging aircraft and stranding passengers. The storm affected runways, terminal roofs and more than 110 aircraft, with some jets sustaining visible damage to wings, cockpits and radomes. Yunnan Airport Group said the airport was hit by unusually severe convective weather with intensive bursts of thunderstorms and hail.
