Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is telling airlines to do a better job of helping stranded travelers or they will face new regulations.
Thousands of passengers have been left stranded at airports after Southwest Airlines was forced to cancel thousands of flights throughout the weekend and into Monday. The weather and air traffic control issues have contributed to the cancellations, the airline said.that his department could draft new rules around passenger rights if the carriers don’t give more help to travelers trapped by flight cancellations and delays.
The Transportation Department on Friday released a copy of the letters, which it said were sent to CEOs of 10 U.S. airlines including the major ones, their regional affiliates, and budget carriers. FILE - Travelers wait to board a plane at Miami International Airport in Miami, Fla., on April 22, 2022.for passengers whose flights are canceled or rescheduled. He told the CEOs the department is considering additional rules "that would further expand the rights of airline passengers who experience disruptions."
"There is a lot of responsibility to go around in this crisis and solving means solving it for the long term, not just trimming back capacity until the only people with air service are those traveling between the large urban centers," Black said.