AirlineGeeks Launches Live TSA Checkpoint Wait Time Tool for Airports Across the U.S.

The app will help readers plan for upcoming travel amid the partial government shutdown.

Matt Leighton

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 03:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

The TSA Wait Time tool. (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

Some TSA checkpoint lines at U.S. airports are now hours long as employees are working without pay.

This is due to the partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security, which TSA falls under.

On Monday, George Bush Intercontinental Airport posted on its website that TSA wait times could exceed four hours.

To help with the unpredictability of wait times, AirlineGeeks has created an easy-to-use TSA Checkpoint Wait Time tool. This data is updated every five minutes from airport sources.

We will be adding more airports if there is live data available. If you know of an airport that has live data on their website, please email social.media@airlinegeeks.com to let us know!

Matt Leighton is the Social Media Editor for Firecrown Media’s aviation brands.

Matt Leighton

Matt is the Social Media Editor for aviation brands. Previously, Matt worked in television news and spent the last decade working and interning in newsrooms across New England. He is excited to bridge his two passions of aviation and storytelling in this role.

ICE Deployed to Major Airports

Agents are expected to assist TSA employees.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 02:20 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A TSA checkpoint. (Photo: Shutterstock | David Tran Photo)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed to several U.S. airports Monday in a bid to alleviate the growing burden on TSA employees, whose ranks are thinning as they continue to go without pay.

Photos and videos taken by national and local media outlets showed agents with “Police – ICE” insignia at New York-JFK, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Newark, New Jersey, Houston Hobby, and New Orleans. Those airports have seen some of the longest security wait times since the partial government shutdown began last month.

President Donald Trump first announced plans to send ICE agents to airports late last week, and Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed the deployment was moving forward over the weekend. But DHS leaders have been hesitant to release details, citing the risk of protests and disruptions.

Tom Homan, the White House’s “border czar,” told reporters Monday that agents were sent to 14 airports but did not name them.

“There will be more,” Homan added.

A source with knowledge of the matter told CNN that the 14 airports are Chicago O’Hare, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston Hobby, JFK, LaGuardia, New Orleans, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Fort Myers, Florida, and Houston Bush.

LaGuardia was temporarily closed after a collision between an Air Canada aircraft and a fire truck killed two pilots and injured dozens of other people.

Over 400 TSA employees have resigned since mid-February, and a growing number are calling out of work. This has left officers who do report in with much higher workloads and fewer resources, increasing wait times for passengers.

Long lines were seen again over the weekend as the spring break travel season nears its peak. Some travelers in Atlanta faced a three-hour-long wait at security, and in New Orleans the TSA line stretched out of the airport and into the parking lot.

Democratic lawmakers in Congress are blocking funding for DHS in an effort to impose new oversight on ICE and Customs and Border Protection. All three agencies – TSA, ICE, and CBP – are part of the department.

So far, however, ICE and CBP employees have continued to be paid from funding allocated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while TSA staff are about to miss their second full paycheck.

Democratic leaders denounced Trump’s decision to send ICE to airports and said the deployment will create more problems than it solves.

It was not clear Monday what roles ICE agents will take on, or if they will be directly involved in screening passengers.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

United to Cut Capacity as Fuel Prices Soar

The carrier will temporarily slash 5% of its total schedule.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 12:05 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United A321neo aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | HarrisonKim1)

United will pare back underperforming routes over the next two quarters as it braces for continuing high fuel prices.

In a memo sent to United employees on Friday, CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier is preparing for oil prices to rise as high as $175 per barrel and remain above $100 per barrel through the end of 2027.

“The reality is, jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks,” Kirby said in the message. “If prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11B in annual expense just for jet fuel. For perspective, in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B.”

As of Monday morning, oil prices were hovering around $101 per barrel.

United plans to cut 5% of flights in the short term and restore its full schedule by the fall. Most of that temporary reduction – three of the five percentage points – will come from flying in off-peak periods, such as red-eye service and flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Another point will come from United’s operations at Chicago O’Hare when the FAA concludes its flight reduction negotiations with both United and American. The airport is currently overscheduled for the summer travel season, and regulators are in the process of bringing daily departures and arrivals down to a sustainable level.

United has already paused service to Tel Aviv and Dubai, which accounts for another point of capacity.

“To be clear, nothing changes about our longer-term plans for aircraft deliveries or total capacity for 2027 and beyond, but there’s no point in burning cash in the near term on flying that just can’t absorb these fuel costs,” Kirby said.

The CEO also emphasized that United’s financial position remains solid, with demand “the strongest we’ve ever seen.”

“The 10 biggest booked revenue weeks in our history have been the last 10 weeks,” he said.

Fighting in the Middle East has almost completely suspended transit through the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% to 25% of the world’s seaborne oil passes. As a result, energy prices in many parts of the world have shot up, with U.S. consumers feeling the impact most directly through gas prices.

Despite the price shock, U.S. airlines have generally remained bullish, noting, like United, that demand remains high.

Zach Vasile

Air Canada CRJ Collides With Fire Truck, Killing Two

LaGuardia Airport is closed as investigators gather at the scene.

Zach Vasile

Monday, March 23, 2026 at 09:04 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Canada Express Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Jazz Aviation. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Two people were killed and dozens injured late Sunday night when an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, said the flight’s captain and first officer were killed, and 41 others were hospitalized for injuries. Thirty-nine of those injured were on the aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ-900, and two were on the firefighting vehicle.

According to the Associated Press, most have been released after treatment.

The identities of the two pilots have not been made public. A Port Authority official cited by CBS News said both were based in Canada.

The flight was operated by Jazz Aviation and had 72 passengers and four crew on board, Air Canada said. It was arriving at LaGuardia from Montreal.

In a statement, the airline offered condolences to the families of those killed and said a team is being sent to New York to assist in the coming investigation. Officials said they will continue to release more information as it becomes available, and posted phone numbers for concerned relatives to call.

The FAA said the collision took place at 11:40 p.m. local time as the CRJ-900 landed on Runway 4.

FAA Statement
Air Canada Express Flight 8646 struck an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicle after landing on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The accident occurred around 11:40 p.m. local time on Sunday, March 22. The CRJ-900 was arriving from Montreal. The FAA and…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) March 23, 2026

Photographs of the scene shared by the AP showed the jet on the runway with its nose badly mangled.

4am Update:

Air Canada 8646 collided with a Port Authority fire truck around 11:45pm last night

LGA closed

2 dead (pilot/co-pilot)
More than a dozen injured

On Board:
72 passengers
4 crew members

NTSB launching a go team

PA news conference set for 4:30am… pic.twitter.com/Rq9PfAxKOT
— Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) March 23, 2026

According to the outlet, the fire truck was traveling across the runway to reach a United flight that reported a problem with an “odor.” Further details about that call for assistance were not immediately available.

LaGuardia is closed and will remain so until at least 2 p.m. Monday, the FAA said. Many flights are being diverted to nearby airports, including JFK and Newark Liberty in New Jersey.

The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the incident, with the NTSB taking the lead.

This is a developing story.

Zach Vasile

Air Seychelles Introduces Paris Service

Flights will operate for one month.

Lorne Philipot

Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Zach Vasile

An Air Seychelles Airbus A320neo. (Photo: Air Seychelles)

Air Seychelles is now offering scheduled flights to and from Paris.

The Mahe-based airline will offer three weekly flights between the Seychelles and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

This service started March 20 and will operate for a one-month period.

Flights are operating with a Boeing 787-900 configured with 290 seats, including 28 Business Class and 262 Economy Class seats.

The service is provided by Etihad Airways, through an agreement between the airlines. Air Seychelles entered a strategic partnership with Etihad, its former equity partner, in December 2024.

The introduction of this service is intended to strengthen European connectivity at a time when many travelers are unable to reach the archipelago due to airspace closures and flight disruptions.

Air Seychelles does not have a large fleet capable of supporting long-haul routes, and many visitors travel to the islands with Middle East carriers, which are now restricted due to fighting in the region.

The Seychelles is dependent on tourism and the absence of tourists severely impacts the local economy.

Lorne Philipot

Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.

JetBlue Pilots Sue Airline Over ‘Blue Sky’ Alliance

The action centers on whether the JetBlue-United partnership violates job protections in the pilots' contract.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 04:33 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue A320 aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

JetBlue pilots are suing their employer in an attempt to force the arbitration of a contractual grievance connected to the carrier’s high-profile Blue Sky partnership with United.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the pilots, said a complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York after JetBlue management “refused” to fully arbitrate a grievance over whether the Blue Sky arrangement violates job protections in the pilots’ contract.

Unions officials said the pilots have exhausted the ordinary channels for getting their concerns about Blue Sky addressed, and will hold the airline “accountable” in court.

JetBlue and United announced the Blue Sky partnership in May. The initiative includes reciprocal points and benefits for loyalty members, an interline deal with revenue booking, integration of JetBlue’s booking platform into United’s website and app, and slot sharing at airports.

JetBlue did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the pilots’ lawsuit.

In a statement issued by ALPA, Captain Wayne Scales, chairman of the union’s JetBlue unit, said the grievance at the center of the case was filed almost seven months ago, and that the carrier’s management “chose the eleventh hour to attempt to deny pilots any effective hearing on the grievance.”

“We believe that JetBlue is playing games rather than living up to its obligation to resolve disputes,” Scales said. “As a result, JetBlue pilots had no choice but to resort to court intervention to restore our rights and to compel JetBlue to fulfill its legal duties to arbitrate the pilots’ grievance over Blue Sky.”

ALPA said JetBlue “falsely” claimed that the arbitration board lacks jurisdiction over important aspects of the dispute.

The current collective bargaining agreement between JetBlue and the union covers over 4,600 pilots.

Zach Vasile

Delta Adds New Route, Extends Another

The new connection will launch in November.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 01:54 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Connection Embraer E175. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Delta on Friday announced a new connection from Austin, Texas.

Starting Nov. 9, the carrier will operate twice daily flights between Austin and Phoenix. The Delta Connection service will use an Embraer E175 aircraft.

Delta does not currently link Austin with any market in Arizona, though it does serve nearby Las Vegas.

The airline also said it will extend and expand its upcoming service between Austin and Bozeman, Montana.

That connection is set to launch June 13, and will operate only on Saturdays during the summer. Officials said the service has been extended through the winter, and will operate daily between Dec. 19 and March 28, 2027.

The extension will help travelers in the Austin area reach Montana during the peak ski season, Delta said.

Flights between Austin and Bozeman will also operate under the Delta Connection brand, using an E175.

“Austin continues to be an important and growing city for Delta,” Amy Martin, Delta’s vice president of network planning, said in a news release. “By adding service to Phoenix and expanding our Bozeman route into the winter season, we’re giving customers in Austin even more access to top requested destinations while strengthening connections to key business markets across the West.”

Delta is expanding its presence in Austin. The carrier will add service to Asheville, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Kalispell, Montana; and Kansas City this year, and expects to have 30 destinations from Austin by December.

Zach Vasile

Transportation Secretary Warns Airports Could Close If Government Shutdown Continues

Air travel will come to a near standstill unless the Department of Homeland Security is properly funded, Sean Duffy said this week.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A terminal in Miami. (Photo: Shutterstock | Khairil Azhar Junos)

The air travel situation in the U.S. is about to get much worse, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Thursday.

During an appearance on CNBC, Duffy said small airports could be forced to shut down because of TSA staffing shortages.

Due to the partial government shutdown, TSA employees are working without pay. They missed their first full paychecks last week after receiving only partial pay at the end of February

“As we get into next week, and they’re about to miss another payment, this is going to look like child’s play, what’s happening right now,” the secretary said. “You’re going to see small airports, I believe, shut down. You’re going to see extensive lines, and air travel is going to almost come to a stop.”

Travelers at several major airports have faced occasionally long lines over the past few weeks as a growing number of TSA agents call out of work or resign. Over 300 have departed the agency since the partial shutdown began.

A new wave of screening delays started Thursday, as spring break travelers looking to capitalize on the weekend headed to airports. Longer than average wait times were reported at Philadelphia, Atlanta, Houston Bush, New York-JFK, Denver, and Austin, Texas.

Duffy told CNBC that the TSA call-out rate nationwide is averaging around 10%, which is five times the normal absentee rate. TSA agents are especially vulnerable to the effects of the shutdown because they are not highly paid, but must live in or near high-cost areas to get to work, he said.

The secretary also reiterated his call for Congress to end the partial shutdown and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, which TSA operates under.

Zach Vasile

Ethiopian Airlines Plans Move to JFK’s New Terminal One

The carrier connects New York and Addis Ababa.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 10:38 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Parker Davis)

Ethiopian Airlines announced this week that it will relocate its operations at New York-JFK to the new Terminal One when the facility opens later this year.

The carrier connects New York to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. It currently operates from JFK’s Terminal 7.

The new Terminal One is expected to open its first gates this year. Additional areas and gates will continue to come online until the project is completed in 2030.

“Partnering with The New Terminal One is a significant step in the service we offer to/from JFK airport,” Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said in a news release. “Our customers will benefit from a world-class airport terminal experience that complements our award-winning service, while enhancing connectivity, convenience, and travel options between Addis Ababa, New York, and our global network.”

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (Photo: Ethiopian Airlines)

The new terminal is part of a broader $19 billion transformation project at JFK launched by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Officials plan to modernize and expand two existing terminals, construct a new ground transportation center, and build an entirely new, simplified roadway network.

Other major airlines set to operate from the new Terminal One include Air France, KLM, Etihad, Korean Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Air New Zealand.

Zach Vasile

FAA, NTSB Investigating ‘Close Call’ In Newark

The incident happened earlier this week and was made public on Thursday.

Zach Vasile

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 09:40 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Runway at Newark Liberty International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | EQRoy)

Federal officials are investigating after a close call was reported at Newark Liberty International Airport earlier this week.

According to the FAA, an air traffic controller instructed an approaching Alaska Airlines flight to perform a go-around because a FedEx aircraft “was cleared for the final approach to an intersecting runway.”

The Alaska flight was operating with a Boeing 737, and the FedEx airplane involved is a 777.

The incident took place around 8:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The FAA disclosed its investigation on Thursday.

Separately, the NTSB said it is also looking into the “close call” at Newark. In its description of events, the agency said the Alaska aircraft “overflew” the FedEx 777 “while both jets were attempting to land on crossing runways.”

There were no reports of injuries to anyone on either aircraft.

Zach Vasile