A new rule on transparency of air travel fares passed by the US Department of Transportation earlier this month has sparked outrage among major US airlines — and now the companies are suing the government to block the order. new.
of a lawsuit has been filed on Monday in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on behalf of the trade group Airlines for America and certain carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
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Airlines they are calling the new rule “an abuse of discretion” and the claim that the agency is exceeding its power by going “beyond its authority” in an effort to “regulate the operations of private business in a thriving market.”
The law, announced on April 24, requires airlines to disclose and explain in advance all “unwanted unexpected charges” to passengers “in a clear, conspicuous and accurate manner” to passengers before they purchase their tickets.
Southwest Airlines did not join the lawsuit – the airline has never charged for checked baggage or fees charged for canceling or changing a flight.
“In general, we support the right of each airline to price its products, but we believe that fees should be clearly and consistently disclosed so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions,” Southwest said. Associated Press.
The USDOT claims the new law will save commuters over $500 million a year in tolls.
“Airlines should be competing with each other to secure passenger business — not to see who can charge the most windfall fees,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press conferencein that time.
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“We will vigorously defend our rule by protecting people from hidden junk fees and ensuring that travelers can see the full price of a flight before they buy a ticket. Many air travelers will be disappointed to learn that The airline lobby is suing to stop these common ground defenses,” the department said Monday.
it's has estimated that Airlines earned $33 billion in 2023 in checked baggage fees alone.