US President Biden has reaffirmed the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority for the next five years, passing a Reauthorisation Bill that the White House describes as “a big win for travellers, the aviation workforce, and our economy.”
Bi-partisan support
The Biden administration has been in battle with airlines over increased transparency rules and compensation levels when customers are let down. But now, having gained broad bipartisan support in a 387-26 vote, and signed on 16 May 2024, the Reauthorisation Bill’s suite of new consumer protections range in scope from what might be called small-fry or hygiene factors, to major new financial disincentives for airlines, as well as sector-wide commitments to tech, infrastructure and workforce developments.
Rights, safety and innovation
Legislation is being brought in against “junk” airline fees, with transparency over ticket prices now enshrined. Air passengers will find airlines can no longer charge extra for families to be seated together. They should also now receive automatic refunds and compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Meanwhile, civil penalties when airlines violate consumer rights will rocket from $25,000 per violation to $75,000.
Innovation is a key theme being used to characterise the Bill. Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Garret Graves, recommending the bill in a press release, said: “This is the most significant legislative step forward for aviation in modern American history, and it is a testament to our commitment to the United States being the global leader in aerospace.”
There have been numerous, well-documented safety incidents in the US aviation sector over recent years and months. What’s more, pilot, air traffic control and ground teams are still understaffed despite mass recruitment drives.
Against this backdrop, the new Bill moves to improve safety standards, introducing 25-hour cockpit recording devices, as well as runway technology to reduce the risk of collisions and near-collisions. It releases more than $105 billion in funding for the FAA, and $738 million for the National Transportation Safety Board over the next four years.
Other additional safety moves include the recruitment of more engineers and technical experts to inspection and scrutiny teams, so that oversight of airline manufacturing processes can be ramped up, as has been the case with beleaguered Boeing’s grounded fleet of 737 MAX.
“Safer, cleaner, greener and more accessible”
Hailing the Bill as advancing “a safer, cleaner, greener and more accessible aviation system here in the U.S.,” said Transport & Infrastructure Committee member, Rick Larsen. “This bipartisan bill provides critical safety enhancements, grows America’s aviation workforce by creating good-paying jobs, invests in resilient infrastructure at U.S. airports of all sizes, sets clear priorities for advancing innovative aviation technologies and provides robust protections for airline customers,” he said.
