Ranking Member Cantwell, Sen. Markey, Colleagues Call on Trump DOT to Stop Making Air Travel Costs More Expensive, Less Transparent for Passengers

Administration is rolling back popular Biden-era consumer protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, joined Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 16 Democratic colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, urging DOT to reverse its decision to roll back popular consumer protections created by the Biden Administration requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays and cancellations and to disclose any ancillary fees upfront so consumers understand the actual cost of flights.

"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 led by Sen. Cantwell. "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."

DOT has targeted two notable Biden Administration consumer protection rules. The first would have required airlines to compensate passengers between $200 to $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 second requires airlines to disclose ancillary fees upfront - like baggage fees or fees to change flight reservations - so consumers are informed of the true cost of a ticket before purchase.

"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 continued. "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 Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

In 2024, President Biden signed the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act, led by Sen. Cantwell. The law contains key consumer protections, including strengthening the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection at DOT, guaranteeing passengers the right to a hassle-free refund, prohibiting family seating fees, tripling civil penalties for consumer protection violations and requiring that flight vouchers be valid for at least five years.

Read the full letter here.