USDOT announces new rulemaking regarding airline tickets refunds

The US Department of Transportation (Department) has announced a proposed rule for public comment, which if adopted, would significantly strengthen protections for consumers seeking refunds for airline tickets. Since early 2020, the Department said that it has received a flood of air travel service complaints from consumers with non-refundable tickets who did not travel because airlines cancelled or significantly changed their flights or because the consumers decided not to fly for pandemic-related reasons such as health concerns. “When Americans buy an airline ticket, they should get to their destination safely, reliably, and affordably,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This