RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Action to Protect Jersey Families from Costly Flight Delays & Cancellations

Above: At Newark International Airport, Gottheimer fights for consumer protections to help families against airline-caused travel issues.

NEWARK, NJ - Today, September 15, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new federal action to strengthen consumer protections and help keep more money in the pockets of families facing delays and cancellations caused solely by the airline.

Video of the press conference can be found here.

Gottheimer's announcement follows the Trump Administration's recent move to abandon consumer protections that would have required airlines to compensate customers for delays caused by the airlines themselves - such as mechanical issues, IT breakdowns, or fueling problems.

"When families get to the airport, they're often concerned that they will get hit with a delay or cancellation. Yet, after your flight gets delayed, you could even face delays in getting the money the airline owes you. That's not right. The European Union, Canada, Brazil, and Britain all already have airline delay compensation rules. We need to ensure that the United States doesn't just stay on track with other countries, but instead, leads the way on protecting hardworking families and business travelers," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "If your flight gets canceled or significantly delayed because of the airlines, you should be compensated - not left stressed out and swinging in the wind. Families shouldn't be left holding the bag when airlines screw up."

Gottheimer's Clear and Simple Airline Agenda:

• First, Gottheimer announced the Enhancing Transparency from Airlines Act (ETA Act), which will require airlines to provide passengers with cash compensation for airline-caused delays of more than three hours on a domestic flight. If the delay is more than five hours, families will receive up to $500.
• Second, Gottheimer is writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation outlining the importance of standing by families and businesses by ensuring travelers receive compensation for delayed flights. This includes recommendations for delay compensation rates in light of the Administration's recent decision to abandon this proposed policy.
• Third, Gottheimer is sending a letter to the major airlines and their associations requesting that they discuss their recommendations to continue increasing consumer protections with Members of Congress.

Costly Airline Flight Cancellations and Delays:

• The U.S. Department of Transportation received a record number of complaints against U.S. airlines last year - up nearly 9%. This is the second-highest level of complaints ever, behind 2020.
• As of July 2025, flight cancellations are up 29%nationally compared to last year.
• Delays are estimated to cost airline travelers and families billions of dollars every year.
• Last year, 37% of all flights were delayed. This year, as of just July, more than 27% of flights were delayed - including 26% of flights in and out of Newark.
  • Last year, about 6% of these delays were the fault of the airlines, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  • During Labor Day Weekend, Newark saw more than 150 delays, JFK had 104 delays, and LaGuardia Airport had nearly a hundred.
• In 2023, Newark International Airport ranked third worst for delays, behind JFK.
• The European Union, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom all already have airline delay compensation policies in place.
  • A 2023 study found that flight delays in Europe decreased by 5% after the EU implemented delay compensation policies.

Gottheimer was joined at Newark International Airport by New Jersey Fifth District constituent Art Elmers, who was impacted by flight delays.

Below: Gottheimer announces new federal action to protect families against costly flight delays and cancellations.

Gottheimer's full remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Good morning. It's great to join you here at Newark Airport - which is one of the busiest airports in the world, with the best of the best working in our terminals, on the runways, and in the towers to keep us safe. But, even with the best of the best working here, Newark is no stranger to flight delays and cancellations. In 2023, Newark was the third most delayed airport in the country. JFK was the worst, by the way. That's not something we put on a Jersey bumper sticker.

Now, while United Airlines recently reported that Newark has turned a significant corner and is now besting the other New York airports, there's still a ways to go. I know that, like me, when families get to the airport, they're often concerned that they will get hit with a delay or cancellation. The same goes for the scores of business travelers who come here every day. The worst part is that when you do get hit with a delay or cancellation, you never know what's going to happen next. Will you be forced to get on another flight, if they can even find you a seat? When will it be, and how long will you be stuck at the airport? Or, will they just cancel your flight altogether?

That's especially true when you fly Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit - which are leading the pack with the worst flight delays.

What's worse is that a delayed flight could be the difference between being able to say goodbye to a loved one or missing an important event. No parent should miss their child's wedding ceremony or a big game… no child should miss opening presents on Christmas morning… no businesswoman should miss a major meeting or interview because of a preventable delay or cancellations.

I'm not talking about a weather event or an air traffic control shortage. I'm talking about when it's the airline's fault, like a mechanical problem, fueling problems, or IT system outage. And when a cancellation happens, the frustration doesn't just end there. Because then you have to wonder: Can I rebook on another airline, and can I afford to pay for it? And what about all of those hours I just missed at work? Will I actually get my money back, or will I be stuck with a voucher that I may never use? Will I have to spend hours on the phone with the airline fighting it? And, tickets aren't exactly cheap. In fact, flight prices are near all-time highs, up nearly ten percent compared to just four years ago. Yet, after your flight gets delayed, you could even face delays in getting the money the airline owes you. That's not right.

Now, some airlines have really stepped up their game when it comes to customer service and communication, like United, Delta, Hawaiian, and Alaskan. Others, not so much.

We should be making it easier for passengers to travel and get refunds for canceled flights. Yet, just more than a week ago, the Trump Administration announced that they were abandoning consumer protections set in motion by the previous Administration. Yes, the Trump Administration is reversing course on consumer protections for air travelers - families and business passengers. These protections would have ensured airlines compensated customers for their time from delays that are only airline-caused.

And, the numbers show that these rules work. A 2023 study found that flight delays in Europe decreased by five percent after the EU implemented a similar policy. Flight tickets in Europe didn't suddenly go up more than they did here.

In fact, the European Union, Canada, Brazil, and Britain all already have airline delay compensation rules. We need to ensure that the United States doesn't just stay on track with other countries, but instead, leads the way on protecting hardworking families and business travelers.

That's why, as part of my Clear and Simple Airline Agenda, I'm announcing new action to protect American families from costly delays when they travel.

The U.S. Department of Transportation received a record number of complaints against U.S. airlines last year - up nearly nine percent. That's the second-highest level of complaints ever, behind 2020. And, if you look at the numbers, you can see why. So far this year, as of July, flight cancellations are up 29 percent nationally compared to last year. That's a massive increase, especially given where they started.

Delays are also up. Last year, thirty-seven percent of all flights were delayed. This year, as of just July, more than 27 percent of flights have been delayed - twenty-six percent of flights in and out of Newark. About six percent of these delays were the fault of the airlines, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Just a couple weeks ago, during Labor Day Weekend, Newark saw more than 150 delays, JFK had 104 delays, and LaGuardia Airport had nearly a hundred. Most of that was from weather or air traffic control shortages. I'm focused on those that weren't.

Families lose precious hours in the airport, so do businessmen and women, time away from your loved ones or work, and delays are estimated to cost airline travelers billions of dollars every year. That not only hurts our families, but also our economy. Our region is a key economic artery for our country. It's where about a third of the U.S. economy runs through. Last year, nearly 146 million air passengers flew in and out of the New Jersey-New York metro area - a new record. We cannot let delays and cancellations, without compensation, keep families from traveling. And we don't want families and workers avoiding Newark because of delays and heading to another airport.

First, American families and business travelers deserve to get properly compensated when they face massive delays caused by an airline. I'm announcing the Enhancing Transparency from Airlines or ETA Act, which will set new rules of the sky - so that a future White House cannot reverse or undo them on a whim.

My legislation will require all customers to receive cash compensation for delays of more than three hours on a domestic flight caused solely by the airline. If the delay is over five hours, families get up to $500. This means cash back in your wallets for the costs you bear and headaches caused by missed connections, paying for extended parking, having to book on another airline or mode of transportation, and other fees caused by delayed flights.

Most major U.S. airlines, like United, Delta, and American, already offer some version of delay compensation for passengers, including complimentary hotel stays. While I applaud them, my legislation will standardize rules across the board and put money back in your pocket. So, instead of airlines making up rules on the fly, pun intended, compensation will be automatic and prompt when the airline is at fault for messing up your travel plans. This will help ensure that the airlines that are failing hardworking families finally step up to the plate.

Right now, if an airline is responsible for a delay more than three hours, airlines currently agreed to rebook you on another flight and provide you with meal vouchers. Some people don't know that, but you should tuck that away. They don't have to give you a hotel, although most do.

Also, with my legislation, airlines won't be able to just give you a voucher that you have to use on their airline in the future. You can't pay for a ticket with a different airline, your groceries, or rent with an airline voucher. During the height of the pandemic, major U.S. airlines reported that travelers were sitting on more than $10 billion in unused credits. That's insane.

If an airline cancels or massively delays your flight, you should be able to get your money back - not just a voucher.

And, by the way, many American airlines are already giving cash compensation for delays in Europe, including United, American, and JetBlue - and it seems to be working. Why not do it here? Last I checked, we are far better than Europe.

Second, I'm writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation outlining the importance of standing by families and ensuring they receive compensation for delayed flights. This will include recommendations for delay compensation rates.

Finally, if the airlines have a better way of compensating travelers for the massive delays they've caused, I'm all ears. This is something the private sector and the government should work together on. So, I'm also sending a letter to the major airlines and their associations asking them to sit down with me and members of Congress and discuss their recommendations. Airlines such as United are stepping up their game by increasing consumer transparency and adding real-time flight updates, not to mention certain compensation. So, as a problem solver, I'm eager to bring everyone to the table to help our airport, our state, and our families.

Last, let me just say, I've been to this airport many times recently, not just as a traveler, but to discuss other policy issues to help address massive delays and issues.

As soon as we saw the major delays caused by the shortage in air traffic controllers and technology issues earlier this year, I called on the FAA to surge resources into our region, and to establish a training program to safely and smartly fast-track Combat Controllers, or CCTs, from the military to become FAA-certified Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs). I also called on airlines to reduce flights to get ahead of delays and keep our families from getting stuck waiting for hours after they get to the airport. These are issues I've been working on for years, along with the Port Authority and others, including the FAA, and getting more resources to Newark.

And, I helped write, negotiate, and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes $25 billion in federal investments to improve airport and air traffic control infrastructure - including $272 million for New Jersey airports over five years.

Here's the bottom line: if your flight gets canceled or significantly delayed because of the airlines, you should be compensated - not left stressed out and swinging in the wind. Families shouldn't be left holding the bag when airlines screw up.

Together, with the actions I'm announcing today, we're putting passengers first, protecting families from costly delays, and ensuring you can fly with more clarity and confidence.

That's a win for Jersey families and travelers, for our economy, and for everyone who travels through our region.

When we stand up for families, here in the greatest country in the world, I know that our best days will always be ahead of us. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

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