Air travel is expected to set a new record this holiday season, and new rules finalized by the Biden administration earlier this year provide new protections for passengers facing disruptions. It’s unclear if President-elect Donald Trump plans to change course on airline regulations when he takes office, but consumer advocates and industry executives are making predictions. “Most of us expect that the Trump administration will not be as aggressive as the Biden administration has been when it comes to airline passenger rights. I would love to be proven wrong,” said John Breyault of the National Consumers League. “I don’t think it is a stretch to say that, over the past four years, we have had the most pro-passenger administration in the history of the airline industry.”A federal rule that took effect this fall requires automatic refunds for cancellations and significant delays of at least three hours for domestic flights and at least six hours for international ones. Passengers are also owed a refund in certain cases when their checked bags are delayed or purchased services, like Wi-Fi, are not provided. Breyault said the refund rule would be difficult to reverse because Congress, in a law passed earlier this year, strengthened the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulatory authority. The fate of other measures is less certain. Another Biden-era rule aims to require more transparent disclosure of added fees during the ticket purchasing process, but that rule is currently tied up in court following opposition from major airlines. Consumer advocates hope the Trump administration will defend the policy. It also remains to be seen if Trump officials will continue pursuing regulations that are still in the works. One proposal would ban airlines from charging extra fees to seat families together on a flight. Another effort announced in December would require airlines to pay stranded passengers cash compensation, going beyond the current refund rule to more closely resemble consumer protections in places like Europe and Canada, according to Breyault.The trade group Airlines for America opposes the idea.”Mandating additional cash compensation — beyond what airlines already provide — will drive up ticket prices, make air travel less accessible for price-sensitive travelers and negatively impact carrier operations,” a spokesperson said in a statement. It comes as some airline executives are predicting a rosier relationship with the Trump administration. Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently criticized government “overreach” under the Biden administration and said the Trump administration will be a “breath of fresh air” for airlines. During a speech in Dallas, Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan said, “There is a general thought that the new administration could be a little more business-friendly.” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pushed back on that sentiment in a news conference last month. “Some of these companies have been showing very healthy profits even at this new and higher level of consumer protection, demonstrating to me that these things can travel together,” Buttigieg said. Trump didn’t focus on airline regulations during his campaign, but he has generally pledged to slash regulations across the federal government. “I will direct every cabinet secretary to cut 10 old regulations for every new regulation, which I did last time,” Trump said at an event earlier this week. The Trump transition team didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about specific plans for the airline industry.
Air travel is expected to set a new record this holiday season, and new rules finalized by the Biden administration earlier this year provide new protections for passengers facing disruptions.
It’s unclear if President-elect Donald Trump plans to change course on airline regulations when he takes office, but consumer advocates and industry executives are making predictions.
“Most of us expect that the Trump administration will not be as aggressive as the Biden administration has been when it comes to airline passenger rights. I would love to be proven wrong,” said John Breyault of the National Consumers League. “I don’t think it is a stretch to say that, over the past four years, we have had the most pro-passenger administration in the history of the airline industry.”
A federal rule that took effect this fall requires automatic refunds for cancellations and significant delays of at least three hours for domestic flights and at least six hours for international ones. Passengers are also owed a refund in certain cases when their checked bags are delayed or purchased services, like Wi-Fi, are not provided.
Breyault said the refund rule would be difficult to reverse because Congress, in a law passed earlier this year, strengthened the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulatory authority.
The fate of other measures is less certain.
Another Biden-era rule aims to require more transparent disclosure of added fees during the ticket purchasing process, but that rule is currently tied up in court following opposition from major airlines. Consumer advocates hope the Trump administration will defend the policy.
It also remains to be seen if Trump officials will continue pursuing regulations that are still in the works.
One proposal would ban airlines from charging extra fees to seat families together on a flight.
Another effort announced in December would require airlines to pay stranded passengers cash compensation, going beyond the current refund rule to more closely resemble consumer protections in places like Europe and Canada, according to Breyault.
The trade group Airlines for America opposes the idea.
“Mandating additional cash compensation — beyond what airlines already provide — will drive up ticket prices, make air travel less accessible for price-sensitive travelers and negatively impact carrier operations,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
It comes as some airline executives are predicting a rosier relationship with the Trump administration.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently criticized government “overreach” under the Biden administration and said the Trump administration will be a “breath of fresh air” for airlines.
During a speech in Dallas, Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan said, “There is a general thought that the new administration could be a little more business-friendly.”
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pushed back on that sentiment in a news conference last month.
“Some of these companies have been showing very healthy profits even at this new and higher level of consumer protection, demonstrating to me that these things can travel together,” Buttigieg said.
Trump didn’t focus on airline regulations during his campaign, but he has generally pledged to slash regulations across the federal government.
“I will direct every cabinet secretary to cut 10 old regulations for every new regulation, which I did last time,” Trump said at an event earlier this week.
The Trump transition team didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about specific plans for the airline industry.