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The Trump administration officially published its decision on Friday to stop considering a Biden-era plan to mandate airlines to compensate passengers for delays.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced in September that it planned to withdraw the proposal issued in December 2024, during President Joe Biden’s final weeks in office.
In the United States, airlines must refund passengers for canceled flights, but the same is not required for delays. The Biden administration sought public comment on the matter and considered regulations that would require airlines to give passengers between $200 and $775 for delays, depending on the length of the delay.
Public comments on the matter were gathered for 60 days, but a formal proposal was never issued. The decision to continue the rule-making process would be left up to the Trump administration.
The DOT received about 350 comments during the collection period, including comments from airlines, airline associations, consumer advocacy groups, disability rights groups, consumers, and others.
“In their comments … airlines and airline associations unanimously opposed new passenger rights requirements,” the DOT reported. “These commenters stated that new requirements for services and compensation for significant flight disruptions would greatly increase costs for passengers and airlines.”
A few commenters were also concerned about the potential costs of new passenger rights requirements for airlines and consumers, with one noting that the requirements would “create an unsustainable financial burden on airlines,” the DOT reported.
Airline trade groups Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association estimated the annual cost to airlines would be $5 billion or more, according to the DOT.
Last month, a group of Democratic senators wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging him to reconsider the withdrawal.
“This is a common-sense proposal: When an airline’s mistake imposes unanticipated costs on families, the airline should try to remedy the situation by providing accommodations to consumers and helping cover their costs,” the senators wrote.
People watch from an overlook as an American Airlines plane takes off near the air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 12, 2025. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
“By canceling this rulemaking, the [DOT] is actively foregoing an easy solution to foster consumer confidence and address the problem of unaffordable travel for many families,” the senators added.
The withdrawal was consistent with the Trump administration’s plan of “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation” and the president’s executive order on Department of Government Efficiency recommendations, which directs agencies to identify and repeal or modify regulations that are unlawful or unauthorized, according to the DOT’s statement.
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.
