WATCH LIVE: Biden and Buttigieg to announce airline consumer protection reform
Ryan King
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President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are set to unveil a proposal to crack down on flight delays and cancellations.
The policy would require airlines to compensate for delays or cancellations that were within an airline company’s control. It will lay out parameters for refunds and other accommodations to passengers, such as meals and hotel expenses, according to a preview from the White House.
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“When an airline causes a flight cancellation or delay, passengers should not foot the bill,” Buttigieg said in a statement. “This rule would, for the first time in U.S. history, propose to require airlines to compensate passengers and cover expenses such as meals, hotels, and rebooking in cases where the airline has caused a cancellation or significant delay.”
Buttigieg has been plagued by a handful of transportation problems, such as the Southwest Airlines holiday meltdown late last year and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, back in February. Republicans have criticized both him and Biden over their handling of the situations.
The announcement is scheduled to be around 1:45 p.m. Eastern time.