Eye on Travel — Langham Hotel in Pasadena — February 14, 2026

Peter Greenberg opens the episode from the historic Langham Huntington in Pasadena, reminding listeners that the hotel, originally the Huntington since 1907, remains a symbol of timeless hospitality. He then shifts to a startling air‑traffic event: the FAA shut down a 10‑mile corridor over El Paso from the ground to 18,000 feet after a turf war with the military over un‑identified drones. The six‑hour closure highlighted the fragile balance between civil aviation security and military operations, raising questions about real‑time airspace management and the need for clearer inter‑agency protocols.

The show then dives into a wave of new airline routes reshaping global connectivity. Qantas is testing a 22‑hour nonstop Perth‑to‑London A350‑1000, potentially the longest commercial flight ever. United retains its trans‑Atlantic lead, adding nonstop services to Morocco, Croatia, and Scotland, while El Al announces nine fresh nonstop destinations from Tel Aviv, linking Israel to Asian and European markets. This surge follows delayed aircraft deliveries and a recent dip in inbound U.S. tourism, creating excess capacity that airlines are filling with introductory fares. Business travelers can capitalize on these discounts before they expire in mid‑May.

Operational shifts at legacy carriers also dominate the conversation. Southwest has abandoned its free‑bag, open‑seating model, imposing gate‑checked bags, assigned boarding groups, and premium‑priced middle seats—changes that risk eroding its brand differentiation. Meanwhile, pilots discuss boarding efficiency and the long‑standing mystery of optimal boarding patterns. The episode concludes with a sobering NTSB hearing on the Reagan National mid‑air collision, underscoring the importance of robust cockpit voice recorders; the FAA now mandates 25‑hour CVRs on new aircraft. Finally, a brief call‑in reveals post‑COVID luxury‑hotel rates soaring, a trend affecting corporate travel budgets.