Where Airports Become Attractions
On the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, aviation and beach life collide at Princess Juliana International Airport, where planes roar just feet above sunbathers at Maho Beach. At peak season, as many as 70 flights a day skim low over the sand, creating a spectacle that is equal parts thrilling and intimidating.
“It’s scary,” said airport worker Franklin Wilson. “It feels like it’s coming straight at you.”
For pilots, the experience is just as memorable. “They love seeing the people on the beach below them,” added colleague Irving Maduro, underscoring why the airport has become legendary among aviation enthusiasts.
At the other end of the aviation spectrum, Qantas Airways this month unveiled images of a new aircraft designed for nonstop flights lasting up to 22 hours, linking Sydney directly with London and New York. The ultra-long-haul jet promises plenty of time for window-gazing — and a glimpse of the future of intercontinental travel.
High-Speed Rail Gathers Momentum
With recent US government disruptions highlighting the fragility of air travel, attention has once again turned to high-speed rail as a potential alternative. CNN reimagined three of the busiest US flight and road corridors as rail routes, offering a vision of faster, more connected domestic travel.
Globally, momentum is already building. Egypt this month unveiled new trains capable of speeds up to 155 miles per hour, part of a planned 2,000-kilometer (1,200-mile) high-speed network. While ambitious, it won’t be Africa’s first: Morocco’s Tangier–Casablanca line, operating at up to 200 mph, has been running since 2018.
Surviving the Thanksgiving Rush
Holiday travel anxiety is a familiar ritual, and 2025 looks no different. Flight attendants shared practical survival tips, from booking directly with airlines to wiping down cabin surfaces. Behind the scenes, CNN’s Pete Muntean visited Southwest Airlines’ network operations control, where every flight is tracked in real time.
On the busiest Thanksgiving travel days, as many as 600,000 passengers will be in the air. Southwest COO Andrew Watterson remains optimistic. “The weather is good and we’re properly staffed,” he said.
For travelers who aren’t so lucky, CNN has published guides on handling canceled flights and lost, delayed or damaged luggage.
Journeys That Redefine Distance
Beyond airports and rail lines, some travelers are testing endurance itself. Torin and Paige Rouse are walking 12,000 miles through all 50 US states, discovering generosity along the way. “We were expecting to sleep under a lot more bridges,” Torin said, noting that strangers frequently offer help.
In August, CNN’s Stephanie Halasz swam from Asia to Europe in Istanbul’s Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race, joining more than 2,800 participants who battled strong currents and jellyfish. Elsewhere, British rowers Miriam Payne and Jess Rowe completed an 8,000-mile Pacific crossing to raise money for charity.
A Century-Old Ship Reborn
Closing the roundup is a story of reinvention. The SS Medina, the world’s oldest passenger ship, first sailed in 1914. Now, following an $18 million investment by a Singaporean businessman, the vessel has been reborn on land — transformed into a hotel and given a new role far from the sea.
Together, these stories reflect a travel world balancing strain, innovation and resilience as one of the busiest travel periods of the year draws near.