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New airfare transparency rules enacted by the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier this month have angered major U.S. airlines, which are now suing the government to block the new mandate.
of a lawsuit was filed Monday in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on behalf of the industry group Airlines for America and certain airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines. filed a lawsuit.
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Airlines calling It claims the new rules are an “abuse of discretion” and that the agency is “exceeding its authority” in an attempt to “regulate the operations of private companies in a thriving market.”
The law, announced on April 24, requires airlines to “clearly, conspicuously and accurately” disclose all “surprise junk fees” in advance of passengers purchasing tickets. , requires an explanation.
Southwest Airlines did not participate in the lawsuit. The airline has never charged fees for checked baggage or fees for flight cancellations or changes.
Southwest Airlines said, “Overall, we support the right of all airlines to set prices for their products; “We believe it should be disclosed clearly and consistently.” Associated Press.
USDOT claims the new law will save travelers more than $500 million a year in fees.
“Airlines should be competing with each other to secure passenger business, not competing to see who can charge the most surprise fares,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a press conference at the time.
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“We will vigorously defend rules that protect people from hidden junk fees and ensure that travelers can see the full price of their flight before they buy it. Many air travelers will be disappointed to learn that we are filing a lawsuit to block these common sense “strengthening protections,” the department said Monday.
It is estimated that airlines made $33 billion in profits in 2023 from checked baggage fees alone.