Rare full moon on Christmas Day -- On Christmas Day, there was a full moon, the first since 1977. It reached its peak at 3:11 a.m. PST. This full moon, the last one for 2015, is called a Full Cold Moon because it happens during the start of winter. A full moon on Christmas won't happen again until 2034, nearly two decades from now, NASA said. Pictured: An airplane crosses a nearly full-moon on its way to Los Angeles International Airport near Whittier, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. AP Photo by Nick Ut.

Airports

Thousands scramble at LAX on busy travel day this holiday season -- More than 100 million people are traveling during the holiday period between Christmas and New Year's, and Sunday was expected to be one of the busiest. Thousands of travelers were flying in and out of one of the nation's busiest airports - Los Angeles International Airport. Inside the terminals, lines were long and people were happy to see many flights were on schedule, but the major delay for travelers at LAX was on the ground as traffic jams grew through the night. Amy Powell/ABC7

Shortened runway may increase overnight activity on north side of LAX -- Starting Monday, some airplanes at Los Angeles International Airport will being using a shorter runway thanks to construction activity that will result in more noticeable aircraft activity for residents just north of the airfield. Runway 24L/6R on the north side of the airport will remain shortened until September 2016 while construction crews make improvements to the Runway Safety Area, which is on the end of the runway and is designed to provide an "extra margin of safety" for landing and departing aircraft, according to Los Angeles World Airports. City News Service LAWA News Release

Apparently mentally ill man found on road inside LAX security zone -- 30-year-old man who appeared to be mentally ill was apprehended walking on a restricted service roadway inside Los Angeles International Airport on Friday morning, airport police said. The man's presence in a security zone did not interfere with any operations or cause any delays for Christmas Day travelers. Still, authorities are investigating how he may have gotten over or through the high chain-link and barbed wire-topped fence that surrounds the area, according to LAX police spokesman Rob Pedregon. Larry Gordeon/Los Angeles Times CBS LA City News Service ABC7 LA Times/KTLA

Unexpectedly long day for American Airlines passengers -- If you were to leave Miami on a flight heading west, 20 hours later you could be in Asia. But the frustrated passengers of American Airlines Flight 295 were just trying to get to Los Angeles. The 186 travelers endured a 20-hour trip after departing Miami International Airport on Wednesday morning. Instead of getting to LAX before noon, they arrived well after midnight. One passenger told CNN affiliate KTLA it was a "nightmare that you can't believe." Steve Almasy/CNN

Inland Empire economy sees growth and expansion in 2015 -- Positive employment growth, the expansion of the logistics industry in the Inland Empire and local control of Ontario Airport were key highlights for the regional economy in 2015, experts say. This year marked the third the region has added about 50,000 jobs annually, which Inland Empire economist John Husing said is an historical first and a significant improvement for the region's recovery after the Great Recession. Neil Nisperos/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

San Francisco International Airport paramedics to begin using bicycles -- In anticipation of Super Bowl 50 and an increase in overall travelers, paramedics are learning how make their way through the San Francisco International Airport on bicycles in order to improve emergency medical care, fire officials announced. Paramedics with the San Francisco Fire Department's Airport Division have already completed their first training session on how to use bicycles in and around the airport's terminals, according to fire officials. Bay City News Service

100 Millionth passenger at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport wins car, travel, giftcard -- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Sunday hosted its 100 millionth passenger, awarding the lucky traveler a Nissan Altima, two Delta round-trip plane tickets to anywhere around the world and a $500 giftcard, WSB, Atlanta, reported. International accounting firm KPMG was hired to verify the milestone. The 100 millionth passenger was identified as Larry Kendrick of Biloxi, Mississippi, who was welcomed by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Marcy Kreiter/International Business Times

Pressure mounts on Turkey for answers in airport blast -- Pressure is mounting on the Turkish government to provide information about a powerful blast or blasts this week at an airport here that killed one woman and injured another. Turkish officials declined to comment on Friday, saying their investigation was continuing into the explosion at the smaller of Istanbul's two airports, Sabiha Gokcen, at 2 a.m. Wednesday. Zehra Yamac, 30 years old, was one of two women injured while cleaning planes at the time. Ms. Yamac died the same day from her injuries. Dion Nissenbaum & Emre Peker/Wall Street Journal

Airlines

Southwest Airlines and its ground workers union reach an 'agreement in principle' -- Southwest Airlines and its ground workers union have reached an "agreement in principle" after nearly five years of contract negotiations. Transport Workers Union Local 555, which represents some 12,000 ramp workers, baggage handlers and others at the Dallas-based airline, notified members on Wednesday. Southwest confirmed that an agreement was reached, but had no further comment. Details of the agreement were not available. Sheryl Jean/Dallas Morning News

United pilots to vote on contract extension -- Pilots union leaders at United Continental Holdings Inc. agreed to send a proposed contract extension to a vote by members, a spokesman said Thursday. The airline's 12,000 aviators are due to start voting on the two-year extension Jan. 5, and majority backing would extend United's recent success in reaching new deals with its unionized workers. David Kelly, a spokesman for the master executive council representing United pilots, said its leaders voted this week to accept the tentative agreement. Doug Cameron/Wall Street Journal

Air New Zealand: long haul network grows to record highs, adding Ho Chi Minh, Houston & Buenos Aires -- Air New Zealand continues to expand into new long haul markets. Air NZ in Dec-2015 launched a service to Houston in its core North America market and opened its first South American flight, to Buenos Aires. Its next long haul destination - Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh - is also a more peripheral market for which Air NZ will have to stimulate interest, rather than accommodate existing demand. CAPA Centre For Aviation

United Airlines loses government subsidy and exits Dubai. US-Gulf market will grow 12% in 2016 -- The US legacy airlines' campaign against the Gulf carriers demonstrates considerable pragmatism. Delta, most vociferous in opposing operations by state subsidised airlines, has acquired a stake in state owned and officially subsidised China Eastern; American Airlines during the dispute has grown its partnerships with two of the three ugly sisters: Etihad and Qatar Airways. Now United Airlines has announced it will exit the Dubai market because it has lost a government contract ("Fly America Act") to a JetBlue codeshare operated on its long haul sectors by Emirates. CAPA Centre for Aviation

Delta needs creativity to avoid IRS tax liability turbulence -- Delta Air Lines spent considerable time and cash in 2015 expanding its global footprint by making investments in foreign carriers. Next year, it might be more interested in moving some of its tax liabilities overseas. Atlanta-based Delta has developed a reputation for creativity. For example, in 2012, it acquired a refinery in Trainer, Pa., to help ensure a steady, and cheaper, supply of jet fuel in the Northeast. Lou Whiteman/The Street

At Boeing and United, retiring union leader sees promising signs -- As International Association of Machinists President Tom Buffenbarger prepares to retire, he sees promising signs for the union's aerospace and airline workers. The IAM requires that in the month when executives reach 65, they retire. Buffenbarger, who was first elected IAM president in 1997, turned 65 on Dec. 14, and will swear in successor Bob Martinez on Jan. 4. In a tough time for labor unions, the IAM has persevered as the biggest aerospace and airline union. Ted Reed/The Street

TSA

Law student sues to overturn new TSA full-body scan policy -- A law student in Miami has asked a federal appeals court to overturn a new Transportation Security Administration policy that could require travelers to use full-body scanners at airport checkpoints even if they opt for a pat-down search. The TSA announced the change Friday, eliminating the option of pat-downs for some travelers. While the agency expects few travelers to be required to use the scanners, the change was made "for some passengers as warranted by security considerations," the TSA said. Bart Jansen/USA Today

TSA moves closer to rejecting some state driver's licenses for travel -- As soon as next year, a driver's license may no longer be enough for airline passengers to clear security in some states, if the Department of Homeland Security has its way. Federal officials said they would soon determine whether Transportation Security Administration agents would start enforcing a 10-year-old law that requires states to comply with a set of federal standards when issuing driver's licenses. Jad Mouawad/New York Times

Travel & Tourism

United Airlines makes changes to program for children flying alone -- With little public notice, United Airlines has expanded the age range of children who must use a $150 service when flying without an accompanying adult. For tickets sold after Dec. 14, any child ages 5 to 15 flying solo must pay for the "unaccompanied minor service." Under the service, airline employees chaperone children to their seats and ensure they are united with designated adults upon landing. Hugo Martin/Los Angeles Times

16 things travelers should know before planning their 2016 adventures -- For travelers, 2015 and 2016 look like identical twins born in separate years, only more so. Much of what was true in 2015 will be truer in the coming year. What was hot this year will be hotter next; what was cheap in 2015 will be cheaper in 2016 (except when it's not; see hotel rooms). Here's a look ahead at what you might see: In the air - More Europe for less. Thomas Cook Airlines will begin an LAX-Manchester, England, route in May. Maybe not quite as convenient as Heathrow, about 200 miles southeast, but not the circus of Heathrow, either. Catharine Hamm/Los Angeles Times

San Diego tourism has record-breaking year -- With just a week to go before the close of 2015, San Diego tourism leaders feel safe in boasting that they will have their best year ever, surpassing all previous records in hotel stays and visitor spending. In all, more than 34 million people are projected to have visited San Diego this year, half of whom were overnight visitors who helped contribute to the nearly $10 billion in spending over the course of the year, the San Diego Tourism Authority is forecasting. Lori Weisberg/San Diego Union Tribune

Airplanes

Mitsubishi pushes back delivery of Japan-made regional jet -- Mitsubishi, a maker of the World War II-era Zero fighter, said Thursday it plans to postpone by one year its deliveries of its new regional jet, to mid-2018. The jet recently made a successful maiden flight that "confirmed the basic characteristics to be satisfactory," the company said in a statement. But it said several issues need to be addressed so the jet's development schedule was revised. The company did not provide details about those issues. Elaine Kurtenbach/AP

Students climb into 727 cockpit -- t's a bit musty inside the 727 parked near a row of storage sheds at Riverside Municipal Airport. Part of the stale smell may be because the plane has been sitting dormant for more than 2� years. Part of it may be the pigeons that have taken roost in the housings of the unused jet engines. The former Federal Express plane is the property of California Baptist University and is one of the tools being used as part of the school's aviation program. But until mid-October, students had never had a chance to wander through its empty fuselage or sit in the instrument-lined cockpit. Mark Muckenfuss/Riverside Press-Enterprise

Helicopters

Dangerous helicopter-bird strikes increase, few safety specs -- The crew of a Dallas police helicopter was searching for a capsized boat last March, when there was a loud explosion and wind rushed through a huge hole in the windshield. The pilot, Sgt. Todd Limerick, put a hand over one eye, his face covered in blood and Plexiglass shards. He kept his other hand on the controls until the co-pilot, Cpl. Laurent Lespagnol, took over and landed the aircraft. "My first thought was that we had been shot. My second was the engine blew up," Lespagnol said in an interview. Joan Lowy/AP

Aviation Data & Analysis

US Airlines Report Combined 20% Operating Margin for 3Q

Courtesy Oliver Wyman PlaneStats

Monday at the Memories