Democratic senators called on U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to reverse a decision to roll back consumer protection measures for flight delays and cancellations.
The Trump administration targeted two notable Biden Administration consumer protection rules that compensated passengers for flight delays of at least three hours, and that disclosed ancillary fees upfront so consumers can see the actual costs of flights. In a letter to Duffy, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and 16 other Democratic senators to urge the department to reverse the roll backs.
“Last year, Congress acted to protect the flying public from airline-caused disruptions and surprise costs,” the senators wrote, referring to the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act. “The law guaranteed the right to a hassle-free refund for passengers when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed regardless of cause. The law also required airlines to have policies in place to compensate passengers for significant flight disruptions within an airline’s control and be transparent about fees — such as baggage fees or change fees — that they charge consumers. The regulations recently targeted by the Department build upon the consumer protection framework established under the law.”
The protection rules required airlines to compensate passengers between $200 and $300 for domestic flight delays of at least three hours, and up to $775 for longer delays or cancellations that are the airline’s fault. The rules also required the airlines to disclose things like baggage fees or change flight fees, so consumers know up front what they are paying for.
“We urge DOT to reconsider its decision to roll back these important cost-saving protections for the flying public and to implement the bipartisan FAA law requirements as Congress intended,” the senators wrote. “American families deserve transparency in airline pricing and fair compensation for travel disruptions. These cost-saving consumer protections should be strengthened, not weakened.”
The letter was cosigned by U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).