by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:50 PM ET, Fri February 16, 2024
The Senate Commerce Committee recently passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, a measure that includes several provisions to strengthen the U.S. air system.
Most notably, the five-year reauthorization bill, which will next move to a vote by the full Senate, includes increases to the number of FAA safety inspectors and air traffic controllers每provisions that are meant to help address the severe staffing challenges plaguing airline transportation in the United States.
As currently written, the bill also steps up staffing for FAA oversight of foreign repair stations. It also sets refund standards for non-refundable airline tickets, includes protection of airline vouchers for five years, and prohibits carriers from charging fees for family seating on planes. The legislation would also triple fines for?airline consumer violations.
"This bipartisan bill delivers improvements to aviation safety and consumer protections that Americans have been demanding,§ Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the committee, said in a Feb. 8 statement. ※The bill will put more FAA safety inspectors on factory floors and more air traffic controllers in towers.
The FAA requires routine reauthorization by elected officials through the reauthorization act. The process provides opportunities to revisit funding decisions, projects, and research initiatives, according to the Consumer Federation of America. The last FAA reauthorization took place in 2018 and expired in 2023.?
In December, the Senate passed a temporary funding extension for the FAA through March 8. The means Congress has until that date to complete work on the FAA bill or pass yet another extension. The House passed its own version of the bill back in July.
While the bill that was just voted on by the Commerce Committee includes important funding improvements that address the safety of flying in this country, there are also some missed opportunities in the measure as currently written, Tomasz Pawliszyn, the CEO of AirHelp, told TravelPulse during a recent interview.
To help further break down the what the measure means for the flying public and its pros and cons, Pawliszyn recently chatted with TravelPulse. Here＊s what he had to say.
Q.What are some of the ways the flying public would be impacted by he FAA Reauthorization Act?
"The new FAA Reauthorization Act has several implications for the American public impacting safety, staffing, accessibility, and the overall customer experience," Pawliszyn explained.?
Safety Improvements 每 The bill allocates $67.5 billion towards funding key FAA safety programs and reforms to ensure new planes are safe and airworthy. This could potentially prevent incidents like the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, or most recently the Alaska Airlines flight where the door flew off mid-air.
"This will provide additional safety measures that rebuild confidence and trust with customers to prevent runway incursions, enhance repair standards, upgrade emergency medical kits, improve evacuation standards, and increase aircraft accessibility," Pawliszyn continued.
Addressing Staff Shortages 每 The bill addresses the ongoing air traffic controller shortage and mandates that the FAA increase hiring targets for air traffic controllers. It also sets up workforce development programs to improve recruitment and retention in the aviation industry.
"This will help reduce airport delays and other chaotic experiences that stem from understaffing," said Pawliszyn. "Airports and airlines are still struggling to rehire to their full capacity. As travel grows beyond its pre-pandemic size, these jobs will have to be filled to meet the increasing demand from passengers."
"This could lead to improved air traffic management, reduced delays, and increased overall travel efficiency," he added.
Enhanced Passenger Experience 每 The bill aims to improve the general public＊s passenger experiences and includes provisions related to ticket refunds for passengers, mandating that airlines provide compensation for delays under specific conditions.
"This is similar to the European Union law EC261, which is prominent in many parts of the world and is an area where America has fallen far behind," Pawliszyn explained. "It also extends the Disabilities Advisory Committee through 2028, which oversees the air travel needs of passengers with disabilities, requiring that airlines invest in accessibility improvements through reformed processes, upgraded technology, and trainings."
Q.Are there both benefits and drawbacks in this bill?
"There are many benefits to this bill as it pertains to safety, travelers＊ experiences, and passengers＊ rights," said Pawliszyn. "Together these improvements can enhance passengers＊ confidence and trust in airlines, as well as in the modern travel experience."
"However, it missed a provision we see in the EU, UK, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere that is extremely important, successful, and popular with people - compensation for delayed and canceled flights."
Refunds are important, but passengers must be protected by regulations and receive acceptable time frames for processing the refunds from the original departure date, Pawliszyn explained.
"Customers must be entitled to additional compensation as in other regulations for cases每between $260 to $640 depending on distance每where flight disruption happens when the airline is responsible for the issue," he said. "This will push airports and airlines to optimize their operations with customers in mind."
This model has existed in Europe for 20 years, according to?Pawliszyn and is crucial for maintaining trust and cooperation between customers and airlines.
"It also provides a necessary financial relief from losses and damages created by significantly delayed and canceled flights, especially around important travel times like holidays, business meetings, and family events," Pawliszyn said.
Q. Why is this bill especially notable compared to the last FAA Reauthorization bill five years ago?
"The new FAA Reauthorization Bill is especially notable compared to the last one five years ago due to its focus on safety reforms and addressing staff shortages," said?Pawliszyn.
"It effectively builds upon safety reforms that were first passed in 2020 as a result of the Boeing 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. It also addresses the ongoing air traffic controller shortage, which was a significant issue in the aviation industry," added?Pawliszyn. "Furthermore, even if it does fall short of forging compensation policies and protections for disrupted flights, it is an important step in creating meaningful provisions that protect customers and increase their rights in an area where they are missing in the US."
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