In a press release issued on 3 June, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) highlights its recent efforts to secure refunds for airline passengers and penalise airlines for slow refunds. Key points include:
- $900 Million in Refunds: The DOT secured nearly $1 billion in refunds owed to passengers from Lufthansa, KLM, and South African Airways for cancelled or significantly changed flights due to COVID-19.
- Fines for Delayed Refunds: The airlines face penalties totalling $2.5 million for delays in providing these refunds.
- Historic Consumer Protection: This action is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader push for passenger rights, including:
- Largest expansion of airline passenger rights in history
- Biggest fines against airlines for consumer violations
- Increased enforcement of airline customer service standards
- New rules requiring automatic refunds and banning surprise fees (coming soon)
