Quantcast

Airlines lobby US regulators for rollback on passenger refund requirements

Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Emirates operates with SAF at London Heathrow Airport
British Airways Introduces Brunch Service on Long-Haul Flights
AirAsia FREE SEATS is BACK! - Book Cheap Flight now!
FAA Investigating After JetBlue Plane Skids Off Runway
Virgin Atlantic Offers Family-Friendly Holiday Packages
The Billion-Dollar Outlier That's Rescuing San Francisco Tourism
New Heathrow Security Rule Makes Packing Bags Easier for Travelers
Alaska Airlines Adding More Boeing 787 to Boost Seattle Hub
Ryanair cancels 170 flights, disrupts over 30,000 passengers on French ATC strike
What to Know About Travel to Europe During This Record-Breaking Heatwave
Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
FAA Drone Detection Testing
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
FAA Admits Uncertainty On Drone Numbers In U.S. Airspace, Raising Safety Concerns
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
United Continues to Face Catering Chaos at San Francisco
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