Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) has introduced new legislation that would require airlines to provide cash compensation to passengers for major flight delays and cancellations. The congressman filed the bill this week in response to recent regulatory changes that eliminated mandatory compensation requirements for airline passengers.
Stanton introduced the Airline Passenger Compensation Act alongside Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Emilia Sykes (D-OH). The proposed law would require airlines to provide cash compensation to passengers when flights are significantly delayed or canceled due to circumstances within the airline's control, excluding weather-related issues and other factors beyond the airline's control.
"It should be a really simple concept," Stanton explained. "When an airplane is extremely delayed or canceled through no fault of the passenger or not through a weather delay, the passenger should be appropriately compensated."
Under Stanton's proposal, airlines would be required to follow specific compensation guidelines when flights are disrupted by airline-related issues. For delays of 3 to 9 hours, passengers will receive up to $300 in cash compensation, plus a complimentary rebooking on the next available flight if they miss a connection.
For delays of 9 hours or more, passengers would receive up to $775 in compensation, which also includes free rebooking if needed. The Department of Transportation would have one year to implement these regulations if the bill becomes law.
Stanton’s Initiative
According to Stanton, similar protections existed under regulations established during the Biden administration. However, the Trump administration recently eliminated the requirement that airlines must compensate passengers for major flight disruptions, shifting the policy from mandatory to voluntary compliance.
"Unfortunately, the Trump administration just ripped away that important consumer protection," Stanton said. "So here's what I did this week—I introduced a bill that would restore those critically important consumer protections."
Reports indicate that the Trump administration revised or removed portions of earlier airline passenger protection rules, reducing airlines' obligations to provide certain accommodations or compensation when flights are disrupted.
The new bill aims to reverse that regulatory rollback and restore passengers' rights to compensation when airlines cause significant disruptions to their travel plans. According to Stanton, "It's a good bill and deserves support."
