In the decades after airline deregulation took hold in the United States, planes went from 50% to 80% full. More planes in the sky also created a very congested air traffic system. As other world markets deregulate their airline industries, the problem will continue to worsen. Two key initiatives, one in the United States and one in Europe, are meant to deal with congested skies. But, will there be enough motivation and money to see them implemented?

On 12 November, 2008, IAPA completed its six-month representation on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Tarmac Delays Task Force, a nationalized initiative commissioned to identify proposed standards and processes for easing passenger inconvenience and discomfort during lengthy ground delays.

The Canadian Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by top airlines Air Canada and WestJet after the two objected to a January 2008 decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) entitling oversized passengers to two airline seats for a single price on domestic flights. The court ruled that the airlines failed to prove that a "one-person, one-fare" policy would cause them undue hardship.

New countries have been added to the list of those not requiring a visa to enter the United States. As part of the agreement, these countries will participate in the online traveler registration program proposed for 2009.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will take over name matching of airline passengers against a terror "watch" list in 2009. The TSA has been relying on airlines to collect and compare passenger information to a list of travelers not allowed to fly. False matches would occasionally occur, subjecting passengers to further scrutiny, processing delays and embarrassment.

The world can be a dangerous place. Watching the nightly news bulletins, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's safer just to stock up on tinned food and stay indoors. Of course the fact is that the vast majority of us will never encounter the life-threatening situations we watch on television, but if you are a frequent traveler, and particularly one whose itineraries take you to the more volatile regions of the world, then it's important to take some sensible precautions.,

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing additional security measures for 2009 that will require visitors from nations that participate in the Visa Waiver Program to register online at least 3 days before they actually travel.

IAPA members share the sentiments of just about every frustrated traveler increasingly suffering through extensive flight delays. Enough is enough.

It appears that common courtesy can indeed be legislated. In early August, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved by voice vote the "Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace (HANG-UP) Act," a bill that will make permanent the current ban on cell phone use during flights within the United States.

Earlier this year, various reports emerged about U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents seizing laptops and other electronic devices at U.S. entry points and browsing through data, even asking for passwords and checking mobile phone lists, in some cases.