GoKawiilOn September 11, 2001, America changed in an instant. That day has informed the way we travel ever since. It’s hard to believe that 9/11 was 25 years ago today. On that day, September 11, 2001, I was a young journalist working at CNN headquarters, producing the noon newscast, when I saw the first, then the second, planes crash into the World Trade Center in real-time on the newsroom monitor.
25 years after 9/11, some parts of air travel are starting to look familiar again. Here’s how much flying has changed
Why This Matters
A quarter-century after the 9/11 attacks, the security regime built in their aftermath is quietly loosening, and some aspects of flying are beginning to resemble the pre-2001 experience. For travelers and the aviation industry, it's a moment to assess which permanent changes stuck and which were temporary responses to a specific crisis.
Key Takeaways
- The September 11, 2001 attacks reshaped American air travel and have defined the passenger experience ever since.
- 25 years on, some elements of flying are reverting toward pre-9/11 norms.
- The piece is framed through a CNN journalist's firsthand memory of covering the attacks as they unfolded live.
Worth a Look
Bagsmart TSA-Approved Clear Toiletry Bag — Post-9/11 security rules gave us the liquids limit, and a clear quart-size pouch is still the fastest way through the checkpoint. This Bagsmart version holds travel bottles upright, zips shut so nothing leaks into your carry-on, and can be pulled out and set in the bin in one motion.
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