US: US DOT to create aviation consumer advocate position

A provision in the 1,200-page bill to reauthorise the FAA will create an aviation consumer advocate within the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD) of the US DOT. The new position will be charged with assisting consumers in resolving carrier service complaints, reviewing the resolution by DOT of such complaints and recommending actions the agency can take to improve enforcement of aviation consumer protection rules. DOT has opposed the creation of the aviation consumer advocate, arguing that it will be redundant, given the work of the analysts at the ACPD. That division publishes monthly Air Travel Consumer Reports and shares passenger complaints with airlines, although industry-watchers claim it has been underfunded in recent years. <br/>