US Today - Travel
David Shepardson
04 September 2025
President Donald Trump's administration said on Thursday it will drop a plan by his predecessor to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when U.S. flight disruptions are caused by carriers.
In December, the U.S. Department of Transportation under then-President Joe Biden sought public comment on the rulemaking process about whether airlines should be required to pay $200-$300 for domestic delays of at least three hours and up to $775 for longer delays. U.S. airlines sharply criticized the proposal.
The White House said in a document posted on Thursday that the DOT plans to withdraw the notice "consistent with department and administration priorities."
The DOT also disclosed on Thursday it is considering rescinding regulations issued under Biden in April 2024 that required airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees alongside airfares to help consumers avoid unnecessary or unexpected fees. The requirement was put on hold by the court pending an industry legal challenge.
The department is also planning to reduce regulatory burdens on airlines and ticket agents by writing new rules detailing the definition of a flight cancellation that entitles consumers to ticket refunds, as well as revisit rules on ticket pricing and advertising.
