Flight disruption reimbursement rule canceled by Trump administration
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Passengers whose flights are delayed would no longer be entitled to compensation from airlines under a Transportation Department plan to kill off a Biden-era rule on disruptions caused by carriers.
Why it matters: The shift is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration that have rolled back consumer protections, including the planned dismantlement of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- The rule — which provided up to $300 for domestic routes and up to $775 for international flights experiencing certain delays or cancellations — was popular with consumers when it was first announced by the Biden administration in April 2024, though it never went into effect.
Driving the news: The plan to withdraw the policy is "consistent with department and administration priorities," the administration said.
- USDOT also indicated Thursday via Federal Reserve filings that it plans to drop another Biden-era rule requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees with airfare prices to prevent customers from being surprised by additional charges.
- It is also planning to rewrite regulations on when flight cancellations entitle passengers to a refund, and on certain advertising requirements for flight costs.
What they're saying: "We will faithfully implement all aviation consumer protection requirements mandated by Congress," a Transportation Department spokesperson said Thursday evening.
- This would include a "requirement to refund ticket prices to passengers in the case of airline canceled or substantially delayed flights when consumers choose not to travel," according to the spokesperson's email.
- "Some of the rules proposed or adopted by the previous administration, however, went beyond what Congress has required by statute, and we intend to reconsider those extra-statutory requirements."
- Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Flashback: Trump was expected to roll back the consumer protection efforts, as airline CEOs appealed to the Trump administration to let up on regulation, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick previously reported.
Go deeper: Airline refund rules could be on Trump's chopping block
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from a Transport Department spokesperson and further context.
