As air travel reaches the peak summer travel season, headlines about new airport innovations and more expensive airfares have begun to emerge.
In May, travelers faced increasing airline ticket prices due to the rising cost of aviation fuel and the closure of one of the most iconic low-cost airlines in the United States.
Throughout the month, lawmakers and airport authorities also examined new ways to streamline TSA checkpoints in case of another government shutdown and ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup—both events that can cause hours-long airport lines.
Here’s a look at the top air travel news from May 2026.
Officials Consider TSA Innovations in Aftermath of Government Shutdown
Although the U.S. government has been fully open for weeks, the images of snaking lines at airport security checkpoints are still fresh in travelers’ minds.
As such, officials around the nation began considering new ways to protect TSA from future government shutdowns. Atlanta’s city council, for one, is looking at a proposal to have the city’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) join a program that would privatize the hub’s security operations with TSA oversight. This would insulate the airport’s security workers from missing paychecks in future shutdowns.
The Trump administration made a similar proposal to privatize TSA operations across the nation’s smaller airports, and fire 4,500 TSA workers, but U.S. airlines are opposing that larger-scale plan.
Elsewhere, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) announced it will trial the first-ever remote airport terminal that will provide alternate security screening to help with checkpoint lines. The terminal, which will launch June 1, will be 23 miles from the airport itself and will be available on a reservation basis to certain eligible Delta and JetBlue passengers.
The TSA also announced the launch of new screening technology ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup. Airports in host cities across the U.S. will be outfitted with new Bulk Alarm Resolution Technology (BRT) that will allow officers to screen larger quantities of liquids, powders, and solids.
Airfares Continued to Skyrocket Heading Into Summer Months
As the cost of oil and aviation fuel continued to rise amid war with Iran, airfares also skyrocketed heading into May 2026. According to data from the Consumer Pricing Index released this month, airfares in April 2026 jumped 20% year over year. The higher prices have made planning summer vacations extremely expensive, but there are still some affordable destinations, according to new data, including Puerto Rico, Mexico City, and The Bahamas.
There are also booking strategies that travelers can use to keep their vacation affordable, like planning trips on days when it’s cheaper to fly and using flight price tracking tools.
Airfares in Europe are expected to continue to rise throughout the summer, with one aviation expert predicting potential fuel shortages and elevated airfares through at least 2027.
Despite the significantly growing costs, demand from travelers hasn’t slowed down yet, with April ticket sales surging by 15% year-over-year, according to Airlines Reporting Corporation.
Low-Cost Carrier Spirit Airlines Abruptly Shut Down
In another blow to affordable airfares, low-cost airline Spirit shuttered its operations in early May 2026. The financially struggling carrier appeared ready to emerge from bankruptcy this summer, but it couldn’t handle the higher cost of fuel.
Other U.S. airlines quickly stepped in to fill in gaps in the markets where Spirit had once operated flights. Although some areas, especially Caribbean destinations like the U.S. Virgin Islands, took a big hit from the sudden disruption in flight schedules.
Loyal passengers tried to step in as well, with a crowdfunded campaign to buy Spirit and make it an affordable airline “for the people.” The effort raised nearly $130 million in pledges from tens of thousands of travelers who didn’t want to see the budget carrier close.
Despite the enthusiasm from so many travelers, experts said the idea would have been nearly impossible to pull off, not least because airlines in these situations tend to liquidate remaining assets quickly.
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