department of transportation

Tag Archives for department of transportation.

Biden Administration Considers Rule Change That Could End JSX And Small City Air Service

by Gary Leff on August 24, 2023

Aug 24 2023

When SkyWest proposed to mimic JSX’s model, in order to provide Essential Air Service flights, the big pilot union went ballistic. They see an end-run around hard-fought limits on entry into the pilot profession. People were able to fly with fewer than 1,500 hours – in fact, they were getting paid to build up hours that would qualify them to fly for major airlines. These hours are even better and safer that what most commercial pilots fly to qualify – real operations, not just 1,000 in clear weather flying Cessna doing touch-and-go’s at the same three or four airports.

Delta And United Go To War Over Tokyo Haneda Airport

by Gary Leff on May 17, 2023

May 17 2023

Delta lays out how United’s response is self-serving. And of course it is! Just like Delta’s request is self-serving. The question isn’t the motives of each airline, it’s how should DOT handle it when an airline no longer wants to serve the route that was awarded to them?

Inside The Political Theater Of President Biden’s Airline Compensation Plan

by Gary Leff on May 9, 2023

May 09 2023

There’s a strong likelihood we do not see this rule happen unless President Biden is re-elected because promulgation of a final rule would quite likely not occur prior to the end of the President’s first term, which comes perhaps just a year after a proposed rulemaking is published.

There still needs to be a public comment period on the as-yet released proposed rule. Then DOT will have to consider each comment, respond, and update its rule based on comments received.

President Biden Announcing That Airlines Will Have To Pay Out Cash When They Delay Or Cancel Flights

by Gary Leff on May 8, 2023

May 08 2023

According to a White House official, President Biden and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg plan to introduce new airline regulations along the lines of Europe’s EU261 compensation rules that require payment to passengers for flight cancellations that are within the carrier’s control as well as in the event of significant delays.

DOT Brings On A New Head Of Competition To Beat Up The Airlines

by Gary Leff on January 19, 2023

Jan 19 2023

We can expect a more aggressive approach that pulls whatever tools are convenient in pushing for greater competition in transportation policy.

New refund rules and fee disclosure rules are already pending at the Department of Transportation.

Why Airlines Should Always Dump Miles In Passenger Laps For Long Tarmac Delays

by Gary Leff on December 10, 2022

Dec 10 2022

In 2017 Air Canada violated the ‘three hour tarmac delay rule’ by not allowing passengers to get off the aircraft, and the Department of Transportation has issued a $100,000 fine. But they’re learning that miles given to customers give airlines a 60% discount on DOT fines.

The Government Plans To Impose New Fee Disclosure Rules On Airlines: I Read The Full Rulemaking So You Don’t Have To

by Gary Leff on September 26, 2022

Sep 26 2022

Airlines and travel agencies (including online travel agencies) will be required to display passenger- and itinerary-specific fees. Airlines will have to provide those fees in a format usable by agencies.

I read through the entire underlying document, to find out what’s actually in it that the press summaries might not offer. It’s always the details that determine whether a proposed rule will benefit consumers or inhibit innovation that might make them better off. Here it looks like something of a mixed bag.

Major U.S. Airlines Commit To Put You On Another Airline When Long Delays Are Their Fault

by Gary Leff on September 1, 2022

Sep 01 2022

What’s new, generally speaking, is that several carriers have amended their policies to actually reimburse you when they’re unable to provide you with a room and you book one yourself.

And the largest U.S. airlines have committed to put you on another airline when major delays are their fault, but there’s fine print – often doing the bare minimum to get a ‘check mark’ on the new Department of Transportation customer service comparison chart.

US Airlines Commit To Pay Hotel & Meals During Controllable Delays

by Gary Leff on August 31, 2022

Aug 31 2022

Generally speaking airlines were already on the hook for lodging and meals during controllable delays, however they’ve made explicit commitments here that include reimbursement when they can’t provide a hotel and specific amounts for meals.

US Government Plans To Require Larger Bathrooms On Planes – But Starting 20 Years From Now

by Gary Leff on May 26, 2022

May 26 2022

Since narrowbody aircraft are used on the vast majority of domestic flights, and even the vast majority of domestic flights over 1500 miles (American Airlines uses Airbus A321s for its ‘premium’ cross country flights between New York and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Orange County) it’s a major challenge.

And it means that non-stop flights are generally off the table for a subset of passengers unable to use modern narrowbody bathrooms. They have to connect using flights no longer than they’re able to ‘hold it’.