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U.S. airlines score win as Congress drops 'reasonable fee' rules
Source: Reuters
BUSINESS NEWS SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 / 10:36 AM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
U.S. airlines score win as Congress drops 'reasonable fee' rules
David Shepardson
5 MIN READ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. airline industry scored a win on Saturday as bipartisan congressional legislation dropped plans to mandate “reasonable and proportional” baggage and change fees, but included other new passenger protections.
After weeks of negotiations, a 1,200-page bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was unveiled early Saturday that would require the FAA to set minimum dimensions for passenger seats — including legroom and width — and prohibits airlines from involuntarily removing passengers from flights after they’ve cleared the boarding gate.
In April 2017, video went viral on social media of 69-year-old passenger David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines (UAL.O) flight at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after he refused to give up his seat to make room for crew members. United apologized and promised not to remove seated passengers to make room for other passengers.
But airlines had heavily lobbied against new rules limiting fees. U.S. airlines revenue from baggage and reservation change fees increased from $5.7 billion in 2010 to $7.5 billion in 2017. Other fees are not reported to regulators.
-snip-
U.S. airlines score win as Congress drops 'reasonable fee' rules
David Shepardson
5 MIN READ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. airline industry scored a win on Saturday as bipartisan congressional legislation dropped plans to mandate “reasonable and proportional” baggage and change fees, but included other new passenger protections.
After weeks of negotiations, a 1,200-page bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was unveiled early Saturday that would require the FAA to set minimum dimensions for passenger seats — including legroom and width — and prohibits airlines from involuntarily removing passengers from flights after they’ve cleared the boarding gate.
In April 2017, video went viral on social media of 69-year-old passenger David Dao being dragged from a United Airlines (UAL.O) flight at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after he refused to give up his seat to make room for crew members. United apologized and promised not to remove seated passengers to make room for other passengers.
But airlines had heavily lobbied against new rules limiting fees. U.S. airlines revenue from baggage and reservation change fees increased from $5.7 billion in 2010 to $7.5 billion in 2017. Other fees are not reported to regulators.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines/u-s-airlines-score-win-as-congress-drops-reasonable-fee-rules-idUSKCN1M20NO