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US Transportation Department

The latest news and top stories on the US Transportation Department. A Washington DC-based cabinet-level executive department of the US federal government, the US Transportation Department is dedicated to ensuring the nation has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system. Its main areas of focus include overseeing national transportation infrastructure, developing federal policies and regulations and administering funding for projects.

Dana Winograd (left) and fellow Discovery Bay resident Kate Wade pose with the petition at Mong Kok Government Offices. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong transport

Discovery Bay resident files ombudsman complaint over plan for full taxi access

Petition to Transport Department signed by 1,700 calls for proper public consultation on plan to allow unrestricted taxi access in seaside neighbourhood.

2 Apr 2026 - 10:22PM

Hong Kong society

Plan for full taxi access to Discovery Bay sparks anger among residents

21 Mar 2026 - 9:43PM

Hong Kong economy

How Guangdong drivers are celebrating Lunar New Year in Hong Kong

19 Feb 2026 - 6:53PM

Indonesia

Indonesian plane with 11 people missing, search and rescue under way

Hikers on Mount Bulusaraung have reported finding scattered debris, a logo consistent with Indonesia Air Transport markings.

17 Jan 2026 - 11:12PMvideocam

An aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport. A turboprop ATR 42-500 operated by the company was on the way from Yogyakarta to the capital city of South Sulawesi when it vanished from radar on Saturday. Photo: Indonesia Air Transport’s website

Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong’s new Central Kowloon Bypass records first crash 3 days after opening

Transport chief Mabel Chan urges caution after a truck collides with a car, amid a spate of traffic incidents since the Yau Ma Tei section opened.

23 Dec 2025 - 10:34PM

Hong Kong transport

Over 700 mainland Chinese drivers apply to enter Hong Kong under travel scheme

Authorities say number of applications in line with expectations, stressing scheme not expected to worsen traffic conditions.

18 Dec 2025 - 8:01PM

United States

Trump administration scraps Biden’s airline compensation plan

The rule mandates that airlines compensate passengers between US$200 and US$775 for delays on domestic flights.

14 Nov 2025 - 11:02PM

Airlines in the US must refund passengers for cancelled flights, but are not required to compensate customers for delays. Photo: Shutterstock

Donald Trump

Trump threatens unpaid US air traffic controllers over shutdown absences

US president threatens to ‘dock’ pay of controllers who miss work, while promising US$10,000 bonuses for those who don’t.

11 Nov 2025 - 2:24PM

Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong to adjust seat belt rules for children under age 8 from Saturday

Requirement for seat belt adjusters and child safety seats in private vehicles also applies to those shorter than 1.35 metres.

29 Oct 2025 - 6:52PM

United States

Nearly 7,000 US flights delayed in a day as controller absences surge in shutdown

Staffing shortages are cited in delays at major hubs as the US government shutdown nears the one-month mark.

28 Oct 2025 - 2:38PM

The Air Traffic Control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: EPA

Americas and the Caribbean

15 dead after Brazil bus crashes and flips on side

Police are investigating how the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to strike a sand embankment and overturn.

19 Oct 2025 - 1:43AM

Damage is seen inside a bus that crashed near the city of Saloa in Brazil on Saturday. Photo: Brazil’s Federal Highway Police via AFP

US-China trade war

Chinese airlines oppose US plan to stop flights over Russia on way to America

US Department of Transportation says move aims to address ‘competitive disparity’ between American and Chinese carriers.

16 Oct 2025 - 2:43PM

US-China relations

China hits out at US plan to ban Chinese carriers from Russian airspace

Beijing urges US to consider how its policies harm American firms instead of ‘unjustifiably suppressing’ others and burdening global consumers.

10 Oct 2025 - 8:17PMvideocam

US-China relations

Trump admin proposes barring Chinese airlines flying over Russia on US flights

US airlines have long complained that this gives Chinese carriers the advantage of decreased flying time and lower fuel consumption.

10 Oct 2025 - 4:52PMvideocam

A woman watches plane take off at the airport. Photo: Shutterstock

United States

US tightens trucker licence rules for non-US citizens after fatal crashes

The drastic change means roughly 190,000 non-US citizens who currently hold a commercial licence would not be eligible under the new rules.

27 Sep 2025 - 12:00AM

An instructor talks to a student driver at a driving academy in California. Photo: AP