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1 1 (January 11, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekei0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional ____ *.Research Service Southwest Airlines Disruptions and Airline Consumer Protection Rules January 11, 2023 Southwest Airlines' extensive flight cancellations and significant delays over the December 2022 holiday period disrupted holiday travel and stranded numerous passengers, many of whom had to find alternative ways to reach their destinations. On December 29, 2022, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter to Southwest Airlines urging the carrier to prioritize its customer service responsibilities, such as getting passengers to their destinations; providing meals, hotel rooms, and ground transportation; fulfilling refund obligations; and reuniting passengers with their luggage. Southwest's meltdown, initially caused by winter storms, was compounded by an internal breakdown of its crew-scheduling system. The airline disclosed in its regulatory filing on January 6, 2023, that it had cancelled more than 16,700 flights from December 21 through December 31 and was expecting significant negative impact to its fourth quarter financial performance. The severe disruptions and passenger frustration has drawn attention to existing federal aviation consumer protection rules. The rights of domestic airline passengers are set forth at three different levels: in federal statute, in regulation, and in the airlines' own policies known as contract of carriage. The 1978 deregulation of the airline industry in the United States eliminated federal control over many airline business practices, including pricing and domestic route selection. However, the federal government continues to legislate and enforce certain consumer protections for airline passengers. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation are the primary congressional committees of jurisdiction over airline passenger rights. Congress can authorize the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish and enforce rules on certain issues, and it can enact requirements for airlines through direct legislation. In specific cases, DOT can take enforcement actions against air carriers that violate consumer protection rules. Most of DOT's consumer protection rules are authorized by 49 U.S.C. @41712, which directs the agency to protect consumers from unfair or deceptive practices. Some are also empowered by DOT's authority to require air carriers in interstate transportation to provide safe and adequate service (49 U.S.C. @41702). The definition and interpretation of unfair or deceptive can significantly affect the scope of DOT rulemaking and enforcement authority. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN12077 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress

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