U.S. Government Proposes New Airline Compensation Rules for Delays and Cancellations

The Biden administration has proposed new rules that would require airlines to compensate passengers for major delays and cancellations that are within their control, such as staffing or mechanical problems. Compensation would include rebooking flights, covering hotel rooms, meals, and more. Some passengers welcome the proposal, while others are concerned about potential long-term costs. Airlines for America, which represents major carriers, said airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights and that more than half of cancellations in 2022 and 2023 have been caused by "extreme weather" or air traffic control outages.