Seven US airlines and the lobby group Airlines for America have filed a petition against the US Department of Transportation’s new regulation mandating the upfront disclosure of ancillary fees, citing it as exceeding the DOT’s authority and being arbitrary and capricious.
The airlines involved include American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and United Airlines, and they have taken the case to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana requesting the rule be set aside.
The regulation, published on April 30, aims to enhance consumer transparency and protection by requiring the clear disclosure of fees such as baggage and flight-change charges before ticket purchase, aligning with an executive order from the Biden administration to promote market competition.
Airlines for America argues that the rule will confuse consumers and oversteps DOT’s regulatory authority, while the DOT maintains that the rule is necessary to protect consumers from hidden fees and will defend it vigorously.
