Amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act provides the runway to add another major win for consumers

Washington (May 2, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released the following statement after they filed an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act that requires automatic refunds for cancelled or significantly changed flights:

“When flights are cancelled or significantly delayed, the airline – not stranded, stressed out travelers – should be responsible for ensuring travelers receive a full refund. Building on the other important consumer protection victories in the FAA bill, including a ban on fees for parents to sit with their children, our amendment would give consumers the peace of mind knowing that when airlines send their travel plans flying, their refunds will be processed automatically, without hassle.”

This amendment represents the latest in a long battle to ensure consumer protections are included in the FAA Reauthorization Act. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Markey successfully fought to include several major wins for consumers, including a ban on family seating fees, a requirement that vouchers offered in lieu of a refund are valid for at least 5 years, and a tripling of the civil penalties for airlines that violate consumer protection provisions.

Senators Markey and Blumenthal have also led several pieces of legislation to protect aviation consumers, including their comprehensive Airline Passenger Bill of Rights Act. Senators Markey, Blumenthal, and Warren also led the Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act, which would prohibit airlines from charging unreasonable fees for basic services.

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