US Completes 10 Airline Refund Investigations

The US government has completed 10 airline investigations into passenger refunds delayed or detained during the COVID-19 pandemic and will take enforcement action in the coming weeks, a Department of Transportation official told Reuters on Sunday.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Sunday that passenger refund reviews have been completed and 10 more airline reviews are ongoing. "We will cooperate with airlines when they are prepared to take positive and proactive steps, whether it's fare improvements to help with hiring or flexibility in customer service," Buttigieg told Fox News on Sunday. We will also enforce passenger and consumer rights." He explained. Neither Buttigieg nor the ministry named the airlines. Buttigieg said the government was investigating airlines that "failed to refund passengers after being stuck with cancelations." He said the investigations were being done "to make sure consumers and travelers are protected." In September 2021, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced 18 investigations into complaints that airlines had failed to issue timely refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We look forward to working with the federal government to identify and resolve common challenges to minimize disruptions and ensure safe, uninterrupted travel," Airlines for America, an industry group, said in a statement on Sunday. In November, Air Canada agreed to a $4.5 million settlement to resolve a USDOT investigation into allegations of delayed refunds for thousands of airline passengers. In June 2021, the USDOT announced a $ 25.5 million fine against Air Canada for failing to make timely refunds, alleging that the airline had a no-refund policy in violation of US law for more than a year. The USDOT said it plans to issue rules on refunds for consumers unable to travel due to government restrictions. Current regulations do not address reimbursement eligibility in special circumstances, such as government-imposed travel restrictions. Buttigieg met with airline executives last month to try to ensure that summer flight schedules were adhered to in the wake of cancellations. Consumers were angered when airlines canceled or delayed thousands of flights. Airlines blamed air traffic control staffing problems at the Federal Aviation Administration for much of the problem. Buttigieg said: "We have seen some improvement over the summer, but performance is still not at an acceptable level in terms of cancelations and delays."