A sudden executive-branch announcement demanding a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions triggered a weekend scramble by companies and visa holders to cancel or curtail international travel amid confusion over the rule’s scope. The White House later attempted to clarify that the fee would apply only to new applications—not existing visas—but left significant legal and operational uncertainty across global mobility programs. Corporate legal, HR, and travel teams responded with emergency directives to bring employees home before any new rule might block reentry or trigger added costs.
Delta and Aeromexico have been stripped of their U.S. antitrust immunity after the U.S. Transportation Department raised objections to Mexico’s aviation policies and protections. The delisting could complicate their ability to coordinate and cooperate on routes between the two countries. Industry observers warn it could lead to fare increases, capacity cuts, or operational disruptions if the airlines must untangle joint ventures.
U.S. authorities will raise the ESTA application fee from $21 to $40 beginning September 30, 2025. All pending ESTA applications in the system after the update will be charged the new rate. Travel and industry stakeholders warn the doubling of the fee could deter visitors from visa-waiver nations and affect U.S. inbound tourism.
A cyberattack targeting the check-in and boarding systems of Collins Aerospace disrupted operations at major European airports, forcing airlines and airports to revert to manual processes. Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed—particularly in Brussels, Berlin, and London—while Brussels asked carriers to cancel nearly 140 departures amid the uncertainty.
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