RELEASE: KHANNA JOINS SENATOR SANDERS IN CALLING ON SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG TO HOLD AIRLINES ACCOUNTABLE

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Ro Khanna, Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, sent a letter to Secretary Buttigieg to address the mistreatment of consumers by airlines. In the letter, Khanna states that he shares the same concerns raised by Senators Sanders, Markey, and Blumenthal over mass cancellations and flight delays.

As millions of Americans pack their bags over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrate with loved ones, it is more important than ever for the Department of Transportation to address these issues. In the letter, Khanna describes the Department's response so far as "lacking the urgency, imagination, and boldness to meet the moment and needs of the American people."

The letter points to the Obama administration's actions as a model and urges Secretary Buttigieg to follow in his predecessor's footsteps. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued a rule fining the airlines $27,500 per passenger for excessive tarmac delays. After three hours, the airlines had to allow passengers to go back to the gates or face stiff penalties.

"Airlines have canceled and delayed tens of thousands of flights in just the past week alone. Just yesterday, there were over five thousand delays and over six hundred cancellations. This is an absolutely untenable situation for Americans. And it continues to get worse. If Secretary Buttigieg does not take bold action right now, millions of Americans could see their July 4th travel plans upended. I hope that Secretary Buttigieg will listen to the concerns raised by myself and Senators Sanders, Markey, and Blumenthal and reign in the airline industry," said Rep. Khanna.

The full text of the letter is below.

June 30, 2022

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg

Secretary U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

Dear Secretary Buttigieg, 

As millions of Americans pack their bags over the Fourth of July weekend to celebrateAmerica's Independence with loved ones, it is more important than ever that you considerutilizing every tool available to minimize mass cancellations and flight delays. The Department'sincremental response so far has been lacking the urgency, imagination, and boldness to meet themoment and needs of the American people. I share the concerns raised by Senators Sanders,Markey, Blumenthal, and my colleagues in the House about mistreatment of consumers byairlines.

Over 3.5 million Americans plan to travel by air this July Fourth Weekend. American taxpayershave supported these airlines to the tune of $60 billion in federal pandemic airline aid. Airlinespromised to use the aid to prevent layoffs and maintain staffing levels for when demand returned.Additionally, airline passengers are paying into aviation trust fund which supports the nationalair transport system. However, chronic, and ongoing shortage of pilots, flight crew, andoperational failures continue to plague air travel. Just yesterday, according to FlightAware, therewere 5,777 delays within, into or out of the United States and 639 cancellations. 

Despite the pent-up demand from the pandemic and anticipated summer surges, airlines havedragged their feet on rehiring, all while reporting record revenues. American Airlines' revenuerose to $8.9 billion and United Airlines' revenue was up $7.6 billion, both more than doublesince last year.

There is precedent for action. The Obama Administration's actions could act as a model.Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued a rule fining the airlines $27,500 per passenger forexcessive tarmac delays. After three hours, the airlines had to allow passengers to go back to thegates or face stiff penalties. 

I urge you to consider following in your predecessors' footsteps and determine the best way tofix our country's air travel issues. As you know, as Secretary you have the authority under 49U.S. Code § 40101 to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, such as whenairlines sell seats on flights without enough crews to fulfill their advertised schedules.

As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt warned 90 years ago, when "the lone wolf, the unethicalcompetitor, the reckless promoter, the Ishmael or Insull whose hand is against every man's,declines to join in achieving an end recognizes as being for the public welfare, and threatens todrag the industry back to a state of anarchy, the Government may properly be asked to applyrestraint."

We are two years into the pandemic and my constituents are still seeing mass cancellations nearmy congressional district at San Jose Airport, Oakland International Airport, and San FranciscoInternational Airport. Airports across the country are upending millions of Americans travelplans for weddings, reunions, funerals, long-awaited vacations, and other gatherings. The time toreign in the excesses of the airline industry and protect American travelers is now.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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