Quantcast

Airlines lobby US regulators for rollback on passenger refund requirements

Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
Southwest Airlines Announces Reimagined Fare Products, New Benefits for Rapid Rewards Credit Cardmembers and Tier Member Customers
New Alaska Airlines trading cards take flight this World Pilots’ Day - Alaska Airlines News
United CEO calls Trump's tariffs a 'chess game'
Virtual Training Becomes a Reality
Korean Air Restarts Longest 747 Passenger Flight in the World
Flight tickets from Srinagar remain exorbitantly high despite aviation ministry request
RTX Q1 Earnings & Sales Beat Estimates, Increase Year Over Year
Delta faces federal investigation as it scraps hundreds of flights for fifth straight day
Coalition pledges to remove EV tax break two days after Dutton ruled out scrapping it – as it happened
Adani’s airport unit seeks $750 million loan from global banks
GE Aerospace affirms outlook; CEO met with Trump to discuss tariffs
Flight made emergency landing in Denver after reported animal strike and engine fire
General Dynamics says G800 jet receives FAA, EASA certifications
Archer unveils plans for NYC air-taxi network in partnership with United Airlines
United Airlines doubles down on Chicago roots with new O'Hare billboards
ICAO Proposes ‘Journey Pass’ Biometric ID Boarding
Gatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?
Boarding passes and check-in could be scrapped in air travel shake-up
The most in Mexico: American Airlines adds 30th destination as part of a record-breaking schedule
European air traffic warning means summer delays for holidaymakers
The EU rule change that could affect millions of Brits when their flight is delayed or cancelled
Delta Earnings Land Soon. Why They’re Key for Airline Stocks and the Economy.
Avelo Airlines to Operate Deportation Flights, Hiring Flight Attendants
Travel chaos 2025: all the strikes and disruption expected across Europe
Qatar Airways accelerates Starlink wifi implementation
Airlines lobby US regulators for rollback on passenger refund requirements
Research
Webp r9y2lq4mcr9lvdds2w5641ajppd8
Zach Griff Senior reporter | The Points Guy

Several major U.S. airlines, through their lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A), have submitted a request to the Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking the removal of several federal consumer protection regulations for air travelers.

The 93-page filing was made in May in response to a DOT docket related to an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at promoting deregulation via the Department of Government Efficiency. The filing was recently brought to public attention by William McGee, senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, and published by Frommers.

A4A represents a number of passenger airlines including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines as well as cargo carriers such as Atlas Air, FedEx and UPS.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The extent to which the DOT will adopt A4A's requests remains uncertain. However, the document outlines the airlines’ position on existing regulations. A4A described certain rules as "unnecessary costs and bureaucracy" and claimed they are "unfair" to airlines. The group suggested that airlines could regulate themselves and maintain fair treatment for passengers without federal oversight.

Among the main rules A4A wants repealed is one requiring automatic refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights—a regulation established during the Biden administration. In its comments, A4A called this rule a "gross example of unlawful Federal overreach," stating that airlines have already "proven their commitment to taking care of their customers when flight cancellations occur or when flights are significantly delayed."

Another regulation targeted by A4A is a proposed requirement that would mandate disclosure of full ticket prices—including fees and taxes—when selecting flights instead of only showing them at checkout. The organization argued these standards are higher than those applied to other industries.

Additional regulations A4A seeks to eliminate include parts of rules regarding wheelchair handling for passengers with disabilities; guidance that would require seating families together without additional seat fees; requirements for information on airport signage; and dashboards maintained by both DOT and FAA detailing passenger rights during delays or cancellations and comparing airline policies on seat size and family seating as mandated under recent legislation.

As part of its deregulatory push, A4A has also requested that DOT reduce data tracking and publication within its monthly Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR), calling such efforts “reporting burdens” with minimal benefit: "We also question whether the costs to generate this report have much benefit," wrote the lobbying group. "[H]ow many times is an ATCR even accessed?"

The ATCR is used by organizations like The Points Guy in compiling annual rankings based on airline performance metrics such as punctuality and baggage handling.

Lindsay Owens, executive director at Groundwork Collaborative—a progressive economic think tank—criticized A4A’s efforts: "The airline industry has long been a pioneer in ruthless and deceptive pricing," Owens said. "Now they're seeking to self-enforce the consumer protections they have a long track record of violating." She added: "If key passenger protections are further rolled back, the signal gets even clearer: in the Trump Administration, polices that put corporate profits over consumer wallets are allowed to soar freely."

William McGee stated that his organization plans further comments with DOT regarding these proposals and encouraged consumers to share their views with regulators.

Airlines for America did not respond to inquiries before publication.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025

The 13th Annual Breast Care International Walk for the Cure took place in Kumasi, Ghana, drawing around 30,000 participants, including survivors, healthcare professionals, students, traditional leaders, and advocates.

Oct 22, 2025

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to allow for a significant redevelopment.

Oct 22, 2025