Warren, Hawley File Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Biden Admin’s Rule to Guarantee Automatic Refunds for Cancelled or Delayed Flights

Warren, Hawley File Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Biden Admin's Rule to Guarantee Automatic Refunds for Cancelled or Delayed Flights

Text of Bill (pdf)

Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) filed a bipartisan amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 to ensure consumers' right to an automatic refund if an airline cancels or significantly delays their flight. Senator Warren's and Hawley's bipartisan amendment would crack down on burdensome corporate processes put in place to maximize airlines' profits and protect the Biden administration's rule to ensure passengers can get automatic refunds for cancelled or delayed flights.

"When your flight gets delayed for hours or outright cancelled, you shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get your money back. Congress should come together to make this important change for automatic refunds and put American families ahead of airline profits," said Senator Warren.

"Passengers shouldn't have to beg airlines for a refund when their flight gets delayed or is cancelled altogether. This amendment would protect consumers and put Americans before airline profits," said Senator Hawley.

Under a recently announced rule by President Biden's Department of Transportation, which is set to take effect next month, airlines must automatically refund passengers when their flight is cancelled or significantly delayed. However, this year's version of the FAA Reauthorization Act, which the Senate is currently negotiating, includes a provision that puts consumers last-stripping the automatic refund guarantee and forcing passengers to jump through endless bureaucratic hoops for reimbursements.

Earlier this week, Senator Warren called out the provision in Congress' latest deal, which would be a gift to the airlines, and urged Congress to take action to protect travelers' rights, rather than padding airline executives' pockets.

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