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On May 20, the FAA issued an interim order effective immediately to reduce flight movements at Newark Liberty International Airport to 56 per hour through June 15, and then 68 movements per hour until Oct. 25, 2025. This follows a series of recent telecommunications outages at the FAA's Philadelphia TRACON facility, which manages Newark Liberty International Airport's airspace—notably, a 90-second radar and communication blackout on May 9 that followed a similar incident on April 28, leading to trauma-related leave for several air traffic controllers.
Stricter U.S. border controls under the Trump administration are prompting international business travelers, academics, and government officials to reassess travel to the United States. Heightened security measures, including aggressive screening protocols, device searches, and potential denial of entry based on travelers’ digital content and perceived political affiliations, have raised concerns. In response, some organizations are advising staff against unnecessary travel and issuing burner devices to prevent data seizures. These developments are contributing to a noticeable deceleration in transatlantic business travel, influenced by both economic factors and fear of immigration hurdles.
CBRE Hotels Research has revised its 2025 U.S. hotel industry forecast downward due to a weaker economic outlook. The firm now projects a 1.3% year-over-year increase in revenue per available room, down from the previously forecasted 2% growth. Average daily rate is expected to rise by 1.2%, and occupancy is projected to increase by 0.14 percentage points, both slightly below earlier estimates. Despite these adjustments, CBRE anticipates that factors such as increased group and business travel, a weaker U.S. dollar, and lower airfares will support continued growth in the lodging industry, particularly benefiting urban hotels, regional resorts, and drive-to destinations.
United Airlines launched its first commercial flight equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service on May 15, following FAA approval. This initiative provides free, high-speed Wi-Fi to all MileagePlus members. United plans to install Starlink on more than 1,000 aircraft, aiming to complete installations on its regional fleet by the end of the year. The airline is also working to secure FAA approvals for more than 16 different aircraft models to expand the service across its entire fleet.
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