Passengers shouldn't foot the bill for…: US pushes for new rules on flight cancellations
2 min read 09 May 2023, 06:17 AM ISTThe airlines will have to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals and hotel accommodations in case of a significant delay or cancellation caused by the airline
PremiumThe Biden administration is set to introduce new regulations that will require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals and hotel accommodations in case of a significant delay or cancellation caused by the airline. The rules aim to improve customer service and would be the first to require airlines to provide compensation beyond a ticket refund.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that passengers should not be responsible for costs incurred due to airline-caused cancellations or delays. “When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill," Buttigieg said in a statement. The airline-caused cancellations include flights scrubbed for mechanical issues with the plane or lack of a crew.
This comes just before the peak summer travel season and is part of a broader effort by the administration to improve airline service. However, there is no clarity yet about if or when the new rule will be published. The rule-making process can take months or years.
Airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights: Airlines for America
Reacting to the proposal, Airlines for America, which represents the biggest carriers, said airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights. It added that more than half of cancellations in 2022 and 2023 have been caused by “extreme weather" or air traffic control outages.
“Carriers have taken responsibility for challenges within their control and continue working diligently to improve operational reliability," including hiring more workers and reducing their schedules, the group said.
When an airline cancels a flight, customers are entitled to a refund for the unused portion of their ticket and any extras paid for, such as baggage or seat fees. But, Airlines often try to persuade consumers to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund.
After widespread flight disruptions last summer, the Transportation Department created an online dashboard to pressure airlines to improve customer service. It allows consumers to check each airline's policy on refunds and compensation for flight cancellations or delays.
The 10 largest US airlines promised to provide cash or vouchers for meals if a cancellation causes a three-hour wait for another flight, and nine of them promised to pay for accommodations for passengers stranded overnight.
Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. The Transportation and Justice departments are investigating whether Southwest scheduled more flights than it realistically could handle.
The Transportation Department says it is working with the airlines to reduce cancellations and delays this summer, when air travel could exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic records.
(With inputs from agencies)
