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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reminded the CEOs of the top 10 U.S. airlines that they are required to provide refunds for canceled or delayed flights in accordance with a law passed in May, rejecting a request by the industry for more time to comply.
“As we emerge from the air travel disruptions caused by the global technology outage this month and the busy summer travel season continues, I want to ensure there is clarity when it comes to the rights of air travelers and the obligations of airlines,” he wrote in a letter to the CEOs.
The FAA Reauthorization Act “did not provide for extensions or delays,” Buttigieg affirmed. “Accordingly, we will be taking all appropriate steps to enforce these provisions using our investigative and enforcement powers.”
Airlines for America, a trade group representing carriers including American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), had sought more time to comply with the law, saying tech solutions required for compliance need to undergo “thorough development, testing and refinement before successful deployment.”
Buttigieg also raised concerns that some airlines may not be informing passengers that they are entitled to refunds. “Airlines should not be automatically issuing vouchers or credits when a passenger is entitled to a refund. If passengers opt for vouchers or credits, they must be valid for at least five years.”
His letter came a day after an appeals court blocked the Department of Transportation’s airline fee disclosure rule from taking effect in October, Reuters reported, with a three-judge panel saying it “likely exceeds DOT’s authority.”
