Latest news with #SeanP.Duffy
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
US announces limits on Mexican flights
WASHINGTON, July 20, (Xinhua): The US government announced on Saturday new limits on Mexican flights, accusing Mexico of violating the bilateral air agreement on aviation access and fairness. Mexico has not been in compliance with the 2015 US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement since 2022 "when it abruptly rescinded slots and then forced US all-cargo carriers to relocate operations," the US Department of Transportation said in a statement. Mexico's then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador argued that the capital's main airport Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) was overcrowded, requiring renovation ahead of the upcoming World Cup, partly to be held in Mexico in 2026, and that a newer airport about 48 km away could manage the extra traffic. "By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of MEX, Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market, and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," said the statement. The three "America First actions" announced by US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy will include requiring Mexican airlines to file schedules with the US Department of Transportation for all their US operations, requiring prior department approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights to or from the United States, and the department might withdraw antitrust immunity from the Delta Air Lines joint venture with Aeromexico, the flag carrier of Mexico, to address competitive issues in the market. Delta and Aeromexico, starting their partnership in 2016, have been fighting the department's threats since early last year. The airlines have argued that it's unfair to punish them for the Mexican government's actions. They estimated ending their partnership would harm nearly two dozen routes and 800 million US dollars in annual consumer savings.
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Archer Joins Transportation Secretary and Acting FAA Administrator To Announce Five-Country Alliance to Streamline Certification Process For eVTOL Aircraft Globally
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Archer (NYSE: ACHR) joined leaders from the FAA and DOT, including Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and acting FAA Administrator, Chris Rocheleau, to announce the formation of this five-country alliance to streamline the certification and deployment of eVTOL aircraft globally. This alliance includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The goal of this effort is to streamline the certification and validation process for eVTOL aircraft like Midnight, globally. This alliance has the potential to create a seamless pathway to bring Midnight to the skies of these other countries once the company obtains type certification in the U.S from the FAA. In his comments today, Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said, 'If you ever wanted to see a bat signal go up into the air and say Advanced Air Mobility is here, eVTOLS will be built, they will be certified and brought around the world, that's today.' Following the event he remarked, 'The Administration has made it clear: leadership in advanced aviation is a priority for President Trump and for the United States. This alliance paves the way for the international deployment of our Midnight aircraft, and is another step towards bringing these aircraft to skies around the world. Thank you to the FAA, to the DOT and our other partners in the industry.' Following President Trump's recent Executive Order, this is yet another example of industry momentum with an emphasis on the importance of deliberate and purposeful engagement between regulatory and industry leaders. It's within this framework that Archer will achieve its goal of dominance in eVTOL. About Archer Archer is designing and developing the key enabling technologies and aircraft necessary to power the future of aviation. To learn more, visit Archer Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements regarding Archer's business plans and expectations, including statements regarding the pace at which Archer intends to develop, certify, manufacture and commercialize its aircraft globally. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors. The risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed in Archer's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is or will be available at In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that Archer believes to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. Archer undertakes no obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events. Text: ArcherIR
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
California's High Speed Rail Project Could Lose All of Its Federal Funding, New Report Says
California's High Speed Rail Project Could Lose All of Its Federal Funding, New Report Says originally appeared on L.A. Mag. The U.S. Department of Transportation released a report revealing issues with California's high-speed rail project. The project is in default of its federal grant terms, which consist of $4 billion in taxpayer dollars, according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The California High-Speed Rail project surfaced in 2008 as a two-phase system that would cover 800 miles, connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco, and later extending north to Sacramento and south to San report outlines several issues with the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA)'s project, including construction delays, mismanagement, unsustainability and high costs. The findings are based on the FRA's investigation, where they visited construction sites, contacted CHSRA officials and oversight entities and reviewed thousands of documents. The administration cited missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and overrepresented ridership projections. According to the report, there has been nearly $7 billion dollars in federal funding put toward the high-speed rail project in the last 15 years, and no track has been laid. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has expressed his concern about the direction of the project."I promised the American people we would be good stewards of their hard-earned tax dollars,' Secretary Duffy said in a statement. 'This report exposes a cold, hard truth: CHSRA has no viable path to complete this project on time or on budget.'Secretary Duffy also warned the CHSRA, "If they can't deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trump's vision of building great, big, beautiful things again.'CHSRA has just 37 days to respond to the report. If they fail to provide a satisfactory response, they could lose all of their federal grants, and the money would be reallocated to other projects. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DOT Secretary Duffy announces $1.5B for Hurricane Helene, other disaster recovery
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Wednesday that the Department of Transportation will provide more than $1.5 billion in federal funding to help states and U.S. territories repair roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure damaged by natural disasters, with $683 million targeted to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The funding, part of the Federal Highway Administration's Emergency Relief program, will support repair projects in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Duffy, who visited the hardest-hit areas as one of his first official actions upon taking office, said the administration is committed to expediting recovery. 'Under President Trump's leadership, this Department will leave no state behind. We are expediting the process to remove unnecessary barriers for urgent projects so communities can rebuild in real time,' he said. 'Within the first 100 days of the Administration, we announced repairs to North Carolina's I-40 highway, washed out by Hurricane Helene, that are projected to save two-thirds in both cost and time — amounting to hundreds of millions of hard-earned tax dollars.' Hurricane Helene, which struck in September 2024, caused catastrophic damage across the Southeast, particularly affecting transportation networks in North Carolina and Tennessee. The storm destroyed sections of key highways, including I-40 and I-26, both critical routes for freight transportation in the hurricane's impact was especially severe on railroad infrastructure. More than 40 miles of CSX's former Clinchfield Railroad between Erwin, Tennessee, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, was washed away, including two bridges. Norfolk Southern also suffered extensive damage, with many sections along 50 miles of its line between Marshall and Old Fort, North Carolina, through Asheville destroyed by flooding. I-40, which straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee border, has been particularly affected. While some sections have recently reopened with limited capacity — including the stretch between Exit 7 in North Carolina and Exit 447 in Tennessee — many areas remain under construction. Currently, only one lane is open in each direction between exits 15 and 20 in North Carolina. Of the $1.5 billion allocated, North Carolina will receive $415 million, with more than $400 million dedicated to Hurricane Helene recovery. Tennessee will get $227 million, including more than $178 million for Helene-related repairs. Additional allocations include $68.8 million to South Carolina (with over $50 million for Helene), $44.6 million to Florida (including $43 million for damage from hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby), and $26.4 million to Georgia (with $23 million for Helene recovery). This emergency funding builds on previous allocations, including a $352.6 million 'quick release' package and $167 million initially provided to North Carolina and Tennessee for emergency relief following the funds will be used to restore transportation routes that are essential to regional productivity and economic recovery. Projects include rebuilding damaged sections of I-40 and I-26, repairing bridges, and restoring roads that support tourism by connecting Americans to the region's natural resources. 'The Federal Highway Administration has been working closely with states across the country to restore vital transportation networks and provide safe travel for the public,' said FHWA Chief Counsel Jay Payne. 'As we continue to provide disaster relief, we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide the federal resources needed until all highway transportation links are restored.' The damage from Helene has had significant economic impacts beyond just infrastructure. CSX reported losing approximately $1 million per day in revenue during the first quarter due to hurricane damage and related network constraints. The railroad continues to rebuild its 60-mile line through eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, with reconstruction expected to continue 'through the better part of this year' before completion in October or November, according to CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Sean Pelkey. Duffy emphasized that the Department of Transportation will continue assisting affected states throughout the recovery process. 'We will continue to support impacted states and regions every step of the way as they make emergency repairs and get critical transportation infrastructure back up and running as quickly and safely as possible,' he said. The post DOT Secretary Duffy announces $1.5B for Hurricane Helene, other disaster recovery appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NHTSA Loosens Safety Rules While Waymo, Tesla Gear Up for AV Expansion
The U.S. government is moving to relax key safety regulations to speed up the rollout of self-driving vehicles, as domestic tech and automotive firms accelerate autonomous driving plans. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Thursday announced the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) updated Automated Vehicle Framework, a set of reforms aimed at cutting regulatory barriers for commercial deployment. The changes include allowing certain vehicles without traditional featureslike rearview mirrorsto legally operate on U.S. roads. These reforms reflect how seriously we take innovation leadership, especially as we compete with China, Duffy said during the rollout. NHTSA also plans to simplify crash reporting for self-driving software and expand its exemption program to include non-compliant vehicles built in the U.S.a shift from the current focus on imported models. Still, the agency confirmed it will maintain its general order requiring crash disclosures from vehicles using advanced driver-assistance and automated driving systems. The timing aligns with growing momentum from companies like Alphabet's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Waymo, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), and Amazon's (NASDAQ:AMZN) Zoox. Waymo, which currently operates the only paid robotaxi service in the U.S., plans to expand into Washington, DC by 2026 and is already serving more than 250,000 paid trips weeklyup fivefold from a year ago. CEO Sundar Pichai recently hinted that personal ownership of Waymo vehicles could be on the table in the future. Tesla is also scaling up fast. During its earnings call, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that paid rides using Tesla robotaxis will launch in Austin by June and spread to multiple cities by year-end. Musk noted that Tesla's approach allows far more affordability and scalability compared to rivals like Waymo, whose vehicles are high-cost and low-volume. As the policy environment becomes more supportive, the U.S. robotaxi race is quickly moving from tests and pilots to broader rollout plans. For the industry, a regulatory green light could open the door for faster adoptionand fierce competition. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
