Senators Demand Buttigieg Increase Compensation for Flight Delays

By CNN
Posted on 11/23/22 | News Source: CNN

Three Democratic senators urged the Department of Transportation on Wednesday to increase airline passengers’ compensation for canceled and delayed flights when the airline is at fault.

The pressure campaign comes on the eve of Thanksgiving, as airlines prepare for near pre-pandemic levels of travel.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington, Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut wrote the airlines should be responsible for passengers’ “secondary costs” when they cancel or “significantly” delay a flight.

“The refunds rule should require airlines to cover secondary costs – such as hotel rooms, food and drink, and transportation to-and-from the airport – when an airline, due to a problem within its control, cancels or significantly delays a flight,” wrote the senators.