US states ask Congress for more airline oversight authority
US states and federal agencies should have new powers to investigate airline passengers complaints, a bipartisan group of 36 state attorneys general said Wednesday sharply criticizing air carriers and the Transportation Department. Passenger airlines are exempt from Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversight and most state investigations for consumer complaints under a 1958 law. The state attorneys general are asking Congress to pass legislationgranting them new authority to holdair carriers accountable. In a letter to Congress led by Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Democratic Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and also signed by the District of Columbia and Guam, the states said they have received thousands of complaints from outraged airline passengers, and have relayed them to USDOT but seen little action. "Americans are justifiably frustrated that federal government agencies charged with overseeing airline consumer protection are unable or unwilling to hold the airline industry accountable and to swiftly investigate complaints," the letter said. A spokesperson for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg did not immediately comment. Buttigieg has been pressing airlines to improve consumer service and told Reuters earlier this month that USDOT had completed 10 airline investigations and is pursuing enforcement actions. Airlines for America, a group representing major airlines, did not immediately comment.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-09-01/general/us-states-ask-congress-for-more-airline-oversight-authority
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US states ask Congress for more airline oversight authority
US states and federal agencies should have new powers to investigate airline passengers complaints, a bipartisan group of 36 state attorneys general said Wednesday sharply criticizing air carriers and the Transportation Department. Passenger airlines are exempt from Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversight and most state investigations for consumer complaints under a 1958 law. The state attorneys general are asking Congress to pass legislationgranting them new authority to holdair carriers accountable. In a letter to Congress led by Republican Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Democratic Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and also signed by the District of Columbia and Guam, the states said they have received thousands of complaints from outraged airline passengers, and have relayed them to USDOT but seen little action. "Americans are justifiably frustrated that federal government agencies charged with overseeing airline consumer protection are unable or unwilling to hold the airline industry accountable and to swiftly investigate complaints," the letter said. A spokesperson for Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg did not immediately comment. Buttigieg has been pressing airlines to improve consumer service and told Reuters earlier this month that USDOT had completed 10 airline investigations and is pursuing enforcement actions. Airlines for America, a group representing major airlines, did not immediately comment.<br/>
