The Trump administration has decided to withdraw a plan set by Joe Biden that aimed to provide passengers with compensation for disrupted flights. On Thursday, September 4, it was announced that the administration plans to reverse the initiative, which was designed to enhance consumer protections for airline passengers.
The plan proposed by Biden included requiring airlines to compensate passengers with money, meals, rebooking, hotels, and transportation if a flight was canceled or significantly delayed due to airline fault. This would cover scenarios like severe disruptions or issues with delayed or lost baggage.
Biden introduced this proposal towards the end of his administration in December of the previous year, aiming to bring U.S. airline regulations more in line with those in Europe. However, the Trump administration has opted to discard it, stating that this move aligns with their priorities within the Department of Transportation.
The President likely sees this as part of a broader effort to cut costs on initiatives viewed as unnecessary or overly burdensome.
While this decision is disappointing for travelers, Airlines for America, an industry trade group representing companies like United, Delta, and Southwest Airlines, has welcomed it. The group stated, “We are encouraged by this Department of Transportation reviewing unnecessary and burdensome regulations that exceed its authority and don’t solve issues important to our customers,” according to ABC News.
Most U.S. airlines already provide some level of customer support when they are responsible for cancellations or significant delays, though passengers often need to request these services.
Under Biden’s rule, compensation would have started at $200 for cancellations or significant delays due to mechanical problems or tech-related issues such as computer outages. In cases of delays lasting nine hours or more, compensation could have reached up to $775.
The proposal also included potential allowances for free rebooking on the next available flight or even on rival airlines, along with meals and accommodations for passengers stranded overnight.
Some airlines, like Spirit Airlines, opposed the rule, arguing it could increase operating costs and consequently raise ticket prices for passengers.
“There is no free lunch,” Spirit Airlines commented. “If every time a flight has to be cancelled due to, say, an aircraft maintenance issue, airlines were required to pay each affected passenger $300 plus hotel and meals, there would be a perverse incentive to cancel flights preemptively at any hint of trouble.”
However, many travelers have expressed their dissatisfaction with Trump’s decision to eliminate the plan. Social media has been abuzz with criticism, with one user tweeting, “It’s like he wakes up determined to find one way to make life sh**ier for the working class, every single day.” Another remarked, “Taking away passenger protections doesn’t ‘fix’ anything it just proves politicians will always side with billion-dollar companies over citizens.” A third comment stated, “Trump’s scrapping of airline delay compensation rules proves once again he’s more loyal to corporate fat cats than to everyday Americans getting screwed at the airport.”