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This airport was named the busiest airport in the world for the 21st year in a row

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Definitely avoid this airport if you’re not a fan of crowds, as a US airport has topped the list of busiest airports in the world.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It beat out hubs such as Dubai, Beijing and even more recognisable US airports such as LAX or New York’s JFK.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The airport has won the award for 21 years in a row, as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had close to 107 million passengers passing through back in 2018.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The annual world traffic report done by Airports Council International, which includes airport traffic trends as well as in-depth analysis of the world’s biggest aviation markets show that traffic across the world has increased to 8.8 billion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is a 6.4 per cent increase from last year. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reason for the airport’s popularity is because of its position in the US, as it’s within a two-hour flight for 80 per cent of the United States population.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beijing Airport was in second spot, as it had 101 million passengers going in and out of the airport, whereas Dubai was third, which handled 89 million.</span></p> <p><strong>Here are the top five world’s busiest airports for 2018</strong></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Georgia, US) — 107.4 million passengers</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beijing Capital International Airport (China) — 101 million</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates) — 89.1 million</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Los Angeles International Airport (California, US) — 87.5 million</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (Japan) — 86.9 million</span></li> </ol>

Travel Trouble

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The world’s busiest flights revealed – and Australia made the list

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New research done by </span><a href="https://www.oag.com/hubfs/Free_Reports/Busiest%20Routes/2019/busiest-routes-2019.pdf?hsCtaTracking=ee97d32f-97c9-4625-8a07-481cf63877c5%7C559f8381-6032-446d-9b62-6c16ff1f4bad"><span style="font-weight: 400;">OAG.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has found that Australia has two of the world’s busiest flight routes, but an aviation expert says that it might not be a title the country retains for long.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melbourne to Sydney was found to be the second busiest domestic route in the world, with almost 150 flights each day or about 54,000 flights a year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sydney to Brisbane claimed the 12</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> spot in the domestic rankings, with an annual total 33,443 flights, which is about 92 flights each day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monash Business School’s Greg Bamber said to </span><a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/travel/2019/03/27/busiest-flight-routes-australia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New Daily</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that the rankers were not necessarily a source of pride for Australia.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bamber has said that it would be more beneficial for Australia to have a high-speed rail system between Melbourne and Sydney which gives airports more capacity to focus on international arrivals and departures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’re seeing [more point-to-point] travel in Europe and northern America,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“People don’t want to have to transfer flights or modes of transport to get to their destination.” </span></p> <p><strong>The top ten busiest domestic routes</strong></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeju City to Seoul, South Korea</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melbourne to Sydney, Australia</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mumbai to New Delhi, India</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fukuoka to Tokyo, Japan</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sapporo to Tokyo, Japan</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jakarta to Surabaya, Indonesia</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Los Angeles to San Francisco, US</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jeddah to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</span></li> </ol>

Domestic Travel

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Cyclist sent flying on one of Sydney’s busiest streets

<p>Cycling in Sydney might be a lot of things, but it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. In case you needed any more of a reminder, today’s footage from Dashcam Owners Australia has revealed just how dangerous this activity can be.</p> <p>The horrifying footage shows a cyclist sent flying to the ground by an oncoming cart on Oxford St, with a worker form the nearby shop frantically running out to help.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDashCamOwnersAustralia%2Fvideos%2F1728114583914841%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>“I am positive the cyclist was pretty injured as he smashed his head and leg on the road, also a reminder to wear a helmet,” the person who uploaded the video said.</p> <p>Commenters have weighed in on the footage.</p> <p>“A reminder to wear a helmet? How about a 'reminder to follow the road rules' as the rules apply to everyone,” one wrote.</p> <p>“ Just a suggestion to people. If an accident does occur in front of you and an injured person ends up laying in the middle of the road, please stop your car where it will prevent other traffic from potentially running over that person.</p> <p>“Don't pull off to the side until the condition of the injured person has been ascertained and they can be safely moved off of the road,” another added.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Legal

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10-hour blackout at world’s busiest airport causes chaos

<p>A power outage at the busiest airport in the United States has grounded flights, causing a travel nightmare for passengers across the country just a week before Christmas.</p> <p>Officials at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport said the blackout occurred at 12.55pm local time, leaving passengers in darkness for hours in terminals or aircrafts on the tarmac.</p> <p><img width="498" height="365" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7265966/capture_498x365.jpg" alt="Capture (4)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>More than 1000 flights had to be cancelled because equipment inside terminals was inoperative, although the Federal Aviation Administration flight control tower was operating normally.</p> <p>The cause of the outage was not immediately known, the airport said in a statement.</p> <p>More than 10 hours after the blackout began, authorities announced that electricity had been restored to several areas.</p> <p>Photos and video posted on social media showed passengers sitting in partial darkness in one crowded terminal.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">What You can't see here is hundreds of people waiting at a completely dark terminal <a href="https://t.co/AqJUI0RJ0c">pic.twitter.com/AqJUI0RJ0c</a></p> — Mehtap Colak (@Mehtap_Colak) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mehtap_Colak/status/942505857820086272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote> <p>"Stuck on a plane at Atlanta Airport as the power is out there … bedlam inside and boredom out here!" Twitter user Jack Harris wrote.</p> <p>One woman tweeted out that the “electric exit doors [are] unable to open,” and that “passengers can go no where!”</p> <p>Almost 2500 planes arrive and depart Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International daily, and the airport averages 275,000 passengers per day, according to the airport’s website.</p>

International Travel

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Visiting the world’s busiest cruise ship ports

<p>It’s the fastest growing travel sector in the world. Millions take a cruise each year – so where are they cruising from?</p> <p><strong>1. Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Orlando, USA</strong></p> <p>The three busiest cruise ports in the world are in the US state of Florida, welcoming more than 13 million passengers each year. Ships sailing from here head for the Caribbean, the most popular cruise destination in the world, with some of the islands just a few hundred kilometres from the mainland. Before or after a cruise, check out the art deco architecture of Miami, the waterways of the Everglades or the magic of Disney World.</p> <p><strong>2. Nassau, Bahamas</strong></p> <p>The capital of the Bahamas is the first port of call (all puns intended) for ships sailing through the Caribbean. Get ready for a good time – Nassau is known for its duty free shopping, lively bars and opulent casinos. The Bahamas is such a popular cruise destination that many cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line and Holland America, have even bought their own private islands exclusively for their passengers to use.</p> <p><strong>3. Cozumel, Mexico</strong></p> <p>As many as eight cruise ships a day can pull up at this island port just off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Despite these huge numbers, two thirds of the island remains completely undeveloped and is filled with pristine jungle and white sand beaches. Jacques Cousteau called Cozumel one of the most beautiful areas in the world for scuba diving, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the most popular activities here.</p> <p><strong>4. Barcelona, Spain</strong></p> <p>The busiest cruise port in Europe, Barcelona is rapidly expanding with construction underway for a second terminal that will bring the port’s capacity to 4.5 million passengers a year. It’s a beautiful, vibrant city with incredible architecture (don’t miss the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s famed cathedral), fantastic food and great shopping along the famed Las Ramblas strip that sits almost directly opposite the terminal.</p> <p><strong>5. Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy</strong></p> <p>The port of Civitavecchia is around two hours from Rome itself, but that’s no excuse to skip a visit to the Eternal City. The Colosseum, the ancient Forum, St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel – the list of sights in Rome is virtually endless. It’s one of the main cruise hubs for cruises around the central Mediterranean with cruises from here visiting Sardinia, Sicily, Malta and Tunisia.</p> <p>Have you been to any of these incredible cruise ports? If so, how did you find the experience? Share your story in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/5-things-you-must-do-to-avoid-seasickness-on-a-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 things you MUST do to avoid seasickness on a cruise</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/10-things-you-must-never-do-in-a-cruise-cabin/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 things you must never do in a cruise cabin</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/05/po-ships-first-new-zealand-cruise/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>P&amp;O’s first cruise around New Zealand</em></span></strong></a></p>

Cruising

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The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world

<p>Very rarely are pedestrian crossings must-visit tourist locations in and of themselves, but you don’t have to be at Shibuya Crossing long to see why it’s become an essential part of any Tokyo trip.</p> <p>Shoppers, students, couples, commuters and tourists all converge at this busy junction and when the light turns red they take off in every direction. Yet strangely, there’s a degree of courtesy in the chaos. People are very mindful of their space, and are almost at pains to avoid collisions. </p> <p>Still, if the experience seems a little too chaotic for your sensibilities, you may prefer to get a coffee at the Starbucks overlooking the square. It actually provides the perfect vantage point from which to observe Shibuya Crossing and affords you a moment of respite from the chaos below.</p> <p>If you can brave the crowds the best time to experience the crossing is at a Friday or Saturday night. The lights, and trendy costumes from the locals make it an experience you have to try at least once.</p> <p><strong>How to get there?</strong></p> <p>Shibuya Station is pretty easy to get to from wherever you are in Tokyo. It’s serviced by a number of JR routes as well as Japan’s two subway providers, Toei and Tokyo Metro. If you’re coming from Tokyo Station your best bet is to take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line to Shinjuku Station, then change onto the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line for a few stops until you end up in Shibuya. Follow the prompts to the Hachiko exit to find the statue and the amazing Shibuya Station crossing.</p> <p><strong>Hachiko</strong></p> <p><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12080/japan2_500x333.jpg" alt="Japan2 (1)"/></p> <p>The crossing isn’t the only reason to venture to Shibuya however. Shibuya Station features a statue of Tokyo’s most famous dog, Hachiko. This loyal Akita dog came to the station every day to meet his master, a professor, returning home from work. When his master passed away, Hachiko kept coming to the station every day until his own death 10 years later. This story has become a legend in Japan and a small bronze statue was erected in Hachiko’s memory in front of Shibuya Station.</p> <p><strong>What else is there to do in Shibuya?</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/12081/jap3_500x333.jpg" alt="Jap3"/></strong></p> <p>Quite a lot, actually! Shibuya is buzzing with life and energy at all times of the day and you can easily find a bar or restaurant to take your fancy in no time at all. Shibuya is also one of the best places for shopping in Japan, so take advantage of the opportunity to embark upon a little bit of retail therapy at one of the many department stores in the region. Make sure you save some Yen for a spree!</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/11/japanese-etiquette-guide/">What you should know before visiting Japan</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/02/starting-a-travel-blog/"></a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2015/12/16-countries-to-visit-in-2016/"><strong>16 best countries for travel in 2016</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/02/starting-a-travel-blog/"></a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2015/12/11-weirdest-museums-in-the-world/"><strong>11 weirdest museums in the world</strong></a></em></span></p>

International Travel

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