While customers highly value cheap fares, whether they are cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages, many also appreciate the increasing number of airline regulatory changes the government is making to ensure traveler rights.
The driving force behind these changes is the increasing customer unhappiness with airline service and the growing frustration over airlines drive to charge additional fees for services, such as checked bags and in flight food that in the past was included in the price of the ticket.
The airlines have not responded positively to increased government regulations. Earlier this year US Airways CEO stated that The biggest threat to our viability is government intervention. The Air Transport Association commented Were the most regulated deregulated industry in the country.
New and pending government regulations include:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) implemented a new rule in April that restricted to three hours the amount of time that passengers can be kept waiting on a runway, without the airlines facing huge penalties.
The DOT has proposed a new rule, expected to be implemented, which would require airlines to disclose all possible fees for services that could be charged in addition to the base ticket price.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun charging massive fines on airlines for maintenance and safety rule violations.
The Senate is considering a bill to make airline fees (almost $8 billion last year) subject to the same 7.5 percent excise tax charged on base ticket prices.
The National Mediation Board has changed a rule that oversees union organizing in the air and rail industries making it easier for unions to win representation elections at airlines where in the past airline employees have voted to keep unions out.
The DOT has proposed rules increasing the number of hours pilots can fly per day and the numbers of hours of rest they must be given between flights.
According to the FAA current and new rules are being designed to ensure that airlines live up to their obligations to treat people fairly.
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