CAPITOL HILL AND NATIONWIDE — AIRLINES MUST BE STOPPED FROM FARE GOUGING DURING NATURAL DISASTERS, particularly mandatory evacuations, declares Brooklyn Congressmember Nydia M. Velázquez (D-07), who has introduced legislation to cap airfares when a disaster has been declared. Velázquez’s bill, titled the “AirFAIR Act,” would prohibit airlines from hiking prices over 30% whenever a U.S. state or territory makes a disaster declaration. Moreover, the legislation would give the Department of Transportation authority to further reduce the maximum allowed price increase during catastrophes. Rep. Velázquez noted that, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the lead-up to Hurricane Milton, she received widespread reports of airlines drastically increasing prices, with some consumers noting price increases from $200 to over $1000 for a one-way ticket. “Floridians attempting to flee Hurricane Milton were faced with exorbitant prices for airline tickets on typically affordable routes … Price-gouging when residents are trying to flee the path of a hurricane is unconscionable and could put lives at risk,” said Velázquez. “When ticket prices become too high, those who might otherwise evacuate during a disaster could be left stranded, putting their lives in danger,” she emphasized.
Travelers posted on social media about finding fares as high as $2,351 for flights from Tampa to St. Louis. However, airlines have denied price-gouging and claimed that prices on flights from Florida were capped.
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