The Biden administration is enlisting the help of 15 state agencies to implement consumer protection laws for air travelers, an authority the law limits to the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that states including California, New York and Illinois will help ensure government enforcement efforts keep up with the current air travel boom.
Under the agreement announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the state attorney general’s office will be able to investigate complaints about air service.
If states believe an airline is violating the law or refusing to cooperate with law enforcement authorities, states may refer the case to the Department of Transportation for enforcement.
In return, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will give states access to its consumer complaint system and train state officials on federal consumer laws that cover airlines.
“This is a partnership that will significantly improve the Department of Transportation’s ability to hold airlines accountable and protect passengers,” Buttigieg told reporters.
Buttigieg noted that travelers whose flights are canceled must wait days for another flight or pay extra to fly home on another airline.
“Such things are a violation of passenger rights and we see too many such cases,” he said.
Other states where officials have signed “memoranda of understanding” with the Department of Transportation are Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. states, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Northern Mariana Islands and US Virgin Islands.
Although Mr. Buttigieg, a Democrat, repeatedly insisted the agreement was bipartisan, only two of the state officials who signed it were Republicans. Buttigieg indicated the department hopes to recruit more states.
Under U.S. law, only the federal government regulates consumer protection laws for airlines.
Carriers are not legally obligated to respond to a government investigation.
Consumer advocates have called for expanded enforcement powers to states.
But key House and Senate committees both declined to include the proposal in pending legislation that would cover the Federal Aviation Administration, part of the Department of Transportation.
Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said in a statement that “complaints about air traffic have actually been higher than any other topic during the pandemic, which has been frustrating” because the state lacked the authority to investigate complaints.
Weiser argued that Congress should give states the authority to enforce aviation consumer protection laws, “but I have to say we didn’t wait for Congress to act.”
Consumer groups praised the agreement but said they wanted Congress to write into law the power of states to regulate consumer protection rules.
“This is the next best thing,” said William McGee, an aviation expert with the American Economic Liberties Project, which opposes industry consolidation.
“We do not see this as a threat to the authority of the DOT. We see this as the state assisting the DOT, but the DOT does not have the personnel to respond to all complaints received.” There is a shortage.”
Airlines for America, the trade group representing the nation’s largest airlines, said it is “working with state and national organizations to continually improve the customer experience for all passengers.” We appreciate the role of state attorneys general and their efforts on behalf of consumers, and we look forward to continuing to work with them. ”
