DOT is tackling “unfair cancellation practices” in the aviation industry

RegulationsNuts & BoltsAmerican PoliticsHot SpotsCustomer RelationsHigh Tech / High TouchClaims
Written By Jennifer Joslyn

⚖️ The DOT is tackling “unfair cancellation practices” in the aviation industry.

“Unfair”, by the Department of Transportation’s definition, means “likely to cause substantial injury and the harm is not outweighed by benefits to consumers or competition.” While most airlines maintain that the companies do not intend to harm their customers with cancellations, the DOT is not obligated to consider intention when labeling actions as “unfair.” The DOT is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that the rights of air travelers are protected by regulating the cancellation policies of the airlines. US DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg has led the department as it unveiled an airline customer service dashboard with the purchase of guaranteeing meals and hotels when customers are left stranded after canceled flights.

Read more from Prospect.org ▶

Featured
Flight Attendants Demand Fair Pay
Flight Attendants Demand Fair Pay

Last year, airline pilots scored hefty pay raises through new labor contracts, sparking a wave of demand for better wages among flight attendants.

United Airlines Faces $2 Billion Loss Since Scrapping Flight Change Fees
United Airlines Faces $2 Billion Loss Since Scrapping Flight Change Fees

United Airlines made headlines three years ago when it axed flight change fees, a move that has cost the company an estimated $2 billion.

Massive Lufthansa Strike Disrupts Over 100,000 Passengers
Massive Lufthansa Strike Disrupts Over 100,000 Passengers

Over 100,000 passengers are in for a bumpy ride due to a strike by Deutsche Lufthansa AG ground personnel.

JetBlue Faces Challenges in Fourth Quarter
JetBlue Faces Challenges in Fourth Quarter

JetBlue Airways faced a loss in the fourth quarter and anticipates reduced capacity in the coming year as it strives to regain profitability.

Alaska Airlines Faces $150 Million Loss Due to 737 Max 9 Grounding, Seeks Boeing Accountability
Alaska Airlines Faces $150 Million Loss Due to 737 Max 9 Grounding, Seeks Boeing Accountability

Alaska Airlines recently revealed that due to their grounding of their 737 Max 9 planes after a door plug blew off, this led to roughly $150 million in estimated costs.

United Airlines Reevaluates Fleet Plans Amidst Boeing 737 Max 10 Uncertainties
United Airlines Reevaluates Fleet Plans Amidst Boeing 737 Max 10 Uncertainties

United Airlines is reconsidering its fleet plans involving the Boeing 737 Max 10 due to a series of delays and recent grounding issues.

Shares Soar as Spirit and JetBlue Appeal Ruling Blocking Merger
Shares Soar as Spirit and JetBlue Appeal Ruling Blocking Merger

Shares of Spirit Airlines surged approximately 10% following the announcement that both Spirit and JetBlue plan to appeal a federal judge's ruling against their merger on antitrust grounds.

Federal Judge Blocks JetBlue's Acquisition of Spirit Airlines
Federal Judge Blocks JetBlue's Acquisition of Spirit Airlines

A federal judge has put the brakes on JetBlue Airways' acquisition of Spirit Airlines, a deal valued at $3.8 billion, stating that it would negatively impact price-sensitive consumers by removing the discount carrier from the market.

Boeing 737 Max 9 Grounded for Safety
Boeing 737 Max 9 Grounded for Safety

The National Transportation Safety Board has located the plug covering an unused exit door that blew out minutes into an Alaska Airlines flight.

Alaska Airlines Flight Diverts as Off-Duty Pilot Attempts to Interfere with Engines
Alaska Airlines Flight Diverts as Off-Duty Pilot Attempts to Interfere with Engines

An Alaska Airlines flight operated by Horizon Air had to divert to Portland International Airport in Oregon after an off-duty Alaska pilot attempted to interfere with the engines.

U.S. Department of Transportation Forges Ahead with Mandatory AEB Systems for Heavy Trucks
U.S. Department of Transportation Forges Ahead with Mandatory AEB Systems for Heavy Trucks

Despite opposition from truckers and numerous negative comments, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is moving forward with its plan to mandate automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems on heavy trucks.

Buttigieg Warns of Airline Disruptions Amid Government Shutdown Threat
Buttigieg Warns of Airline Disruptions Amid Government Shutdown Threat

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has issued a warning about potential airline disruptions if Congress fails to pass funding bills or reach a short-term resolution before the looming government shutdown deadline.

Retailers Tighten Customer Perks and Rewards Programs
Retailers Tighten Customer Perks and Rewards Programs

Companies across various industries are cutting back on customer perks as they prioritize higher profit margins.

House Committee Weighs Fiscal 2024 Bill: Key Priorities and Discussions
House Committee Weighs Fiscal 2024 Bill: Key Priorities and Discussions

The transportation funding committee in the U.S. House of Representatives will consider a fiscal 2024 transportation bill, which would allocate $90.2 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

U.S. DOT Launches Task Force to Address Predatory Truck Lease-Purchase Agreements
U.S. DOT Launches Task Force to Address Predatory Truck Lease-Purchase Agreements

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has formed a Truck Leasing Task Force to address predatory lease-purchase agreements that exploit truck drivers.

Escalating Airline Delays and Cancellations Cast a Shadow on the Upcoming Holiday Weekend
Escalating Airline Delays and Cancellations Cast a Shadow on the Upcoming Holiday Weekend

Airline delays and cancellations continue to plague travelers in the United States, raising concerns as the long July 4 holiday weekend approaches.

US Airlines Rake in $7 Billion Annually from Checked Baggage Fees
US Airlines Rake in $7 Billion Annually from Checked Baggage Fees

Last year, U.S. airlines earned over $6.7 billion in baggage fee revenue, with American Airlines alone earning nearly $1.4 billion from checked bags, accounting for more than 2% of the carrier's full-year revenue.

Supply chain delays affect United Airlines' plan to renovate its narrow-body cabins
Supply chain delays affect United Airlines' plan to renovate its narrow-body cabins

United Airlines' plans to update its narrow-body plane cabins have been disrupted by supply chain issues.

Airlines Dismantling Old Planes for Parts
Airlines Dismantling Old Planes for Parts

Despite a short supply, many large airlines are acquiring brand new Airbuses and Boeings.

Southern traffic spurs growing support for pay-to-use express lanes
Southern traffic spurs growing support for pay-to-use express lanes

While trucks will not be eligible for these lanes under the proposal of Governor Bill Lee (TN-R), advocates are claiming that the lanes will be of benefit to everyone, including those who are on the main stretch of freeway.

DOT Secreate Pete Buttigieg fire back at critics: “East coast elite”
DOT Secreate Pete Buttigieg fire back at critics: “East coast elite”

Republican criticism has been rampant over Buttigieg’s response to the East Palestine train derailment, with senators like Mitt Romney (R-OH) and and Marco Rubio (R-FL) calling for his resignation.

U.S. rail union leaders push Biden administration for safety after works fall ill at Ohio train incident site
U.S. rail union leaders push Biden administration for safety after works fall ill at Ohio train incident site

Leaders from twelve of the rail unions met with the Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Amit Bose, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, this week to discuss the illnesses.

House Republicans quick to blame Buttigieg for delayed Ohio train derailment response, but is this warranted?
House Republicans quick to blame Buttigieg for delayed Ohio train derailment response, but is this warranted?

Some state “no” - the real issue lies with the railroad industry’s lack of accountability and regulations after years of lobbying against compliance efforts.

Tired of plane delays? There might be a simple fix
Tired of plane delays? There might be a simple fix

Airline delays can be caused by a variety of factors, including weather conditions, air traffic congestion, maintenance issues, and logistical problems.

Airlines are coming together to create more sustainable aviation fuel
Airlines are coming together to create more sustainable aviation fuel

United, Air Canada, Boeing, GE Aerospace, JPMorgan Chase, and Honeywell are partnering to invest $100 million into The United Airlines Ventures Sustainable Flight Fund.

Tesla likely to expand proprietary charging equipment in the U.S. after DOT pressure
Tesla likely to expand proprietary charging equipment in the U.S. after DOT pressure

The electric vehicle company dominates the market, and CEO Elon Musk has long flirted with the idea of opening up its charging network to competitors but has yet to do so domestically.

Southwest COO says, “we’re sorry”, to the Senate
Southwest COO says, “we’re sorry”, to the Senate

After being called to a Senate panel on Thursday, Chief Operations Officer for Southwest Airlines Andrew Watterson apologized to Congress for the holiday issues that stranded passengers across the United States.

Highway congestion cannot be solved by adding more lanes to freeways
Highway congestion cannot be solved by adding more lanes to freeways

Studies have shown that adding more lanes to a highway often leads to an increase in traffic, known as "induced demand".

Is DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg looking at other political gigs?
Is DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg looking at other political gigs?

While some have speculated that Buttigieg would be aiming for a Senate seat in Michigan, he himself has stated he doesn’t plan on leaving the Biden Administration’s DOT anytime soon.

DOT Secretary Buttigieg isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, he says
DOT Secretary Buttigieg isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, he says

While some have voiced suspicions that the US Department of Transportation Pete Buttigieg may run for Senate in Michigan, the secretary himself is vocalizing his intention to remain in the Biden Administration

Jennifer Joslyn
Previous

China’s EV industry is skyrocketing
Next

DoorDash can now pick up your packages for you!