TSA’s Exit From Atlanta?: 5 Aviation Trends That Defined the Week of Feb. 19-25

PHOTO: Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (photo by Barry Williams/Getty Images)

Is the TSA about to be booted from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport? Staffing shortfalls abound, and give the record-breaking volume of fliers that go through this hub, the general manager is reportedly “dreading” summer 2016. Private contractors would be hired in the TSA’s place. Click for more on this issue.

The eternal question for harried travelers: how long will it take to get through airport security? The brain trust at J.D. Power and Associates along with the TSA have crunched the numbers and can provide some idea of what to expect when arriving for your flight. Click for details.

Since they seem to combust at the drop of a hat, lithium-ion batteries have received yet another commercial airline-related sanction. The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization has banned rechargeable batteries of that type as cargo on passenger flights starting April 1, until at least 2018. Click to find out more.

Virgin Galactic has unveiled VSS Unity, the spacecraft that will take tourists into space. There is still much testing to be done before she will be ready to take on passengers for the 50 mile-high suborbital arc, mogul Richard Branson said. Click for more on this pioneering space tourism venture.

Southwest Airlines fliers can now use Pay with Amazon for in-flight purchases. This service can be accessed via iOS and Android devices, as well as web browsers. Click to find out the details of the service along with other ways Southwest is partnering with Amazon for passenger amenities.

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