USTA: U.S. air travel unprepared for World Cup, Olympics

THE U.S. IS unprepared for the air travel demands of the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to the U.S. Travel Association’s Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel. Without immediate action, the outdated system will struggle with increased visitors amid concerns over visas, aging infrastructure and inadequate security technology. The USTA-commissioned report estimates the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, 2025 Ryder Cup and the U.S.’s 250th birthday celebrations could draw 40 million visitors and generate $95 billion in economic activity. \"The next several years will bring unprecedented travel demand that our systems are not prepared to handle,\" said Geoff Freeman, USTA’s president and CEO. \"Washington has a small window to fix major travel pain points and unlock a $100 billion economic opportunity—but it will require a level of urgency that has been missing in recent years.\"