The Trump administration on Sept. 4 dropped a Biden-era proposal that would have required airlines to pay cash and provide other compensation to passengers for delays within their control.
The White House said in a document that the Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to withdraw the proposal “consistent with department and administration priorities.”
U.S. airlines must refund passengers for canceled flights, but there are no laws requiring compensation for all delays over a specified period or for related incidental expenses. The DOT says on its website that it assesses applications for refunds following a significant delay “on a case-by-case basis.”
The proposals, announced in December 2024 during President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office, would also have required U.S. and foreign airlines to cover hotel stays, meals, and rebookings. The rules would have covered flight disruptions to, within, or from the United States….