Corporations have fought vigorously to thwart even the most basic rules that would require them to be more transparent about hidden charges, according to a Washington Post review of federal lobbying records and hundreds of filings submitted to government agencies.
The U.S. crackdown on airline consolidation faces a new test this week with the trial of a government lawsuit claiming the $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit Airlines Inc. by JetBlue Airways Corp. would reduce competition and boost fares for passengers.
More than 350 United flights were delayed Tuesday—13% of the carrier’s schedule, far more than rivals American, Delta and Southwest—on a day that many holiday vacationers were expected to fly home.
Canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend.
Consumer advocates say the disclosure supports the antitrust lawsuit aimed at blocking JetBlue’s $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit, the nation’s largest discount airline.
The Allied Pilots Association said that 73% of pilots who took part voted in favor of the four-year contract, which it valued at $9.6 billion.
The storms’ spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states. By late Monday afternoon, about 1,500 U.S. flights had been canceled and more than 7,000 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.
According to letters that the airlines were required to file with regulators, hackers gained access to names, birth dates, Social Security and passport numbers, and driver and pilot-license numbers of applicants for pilot and cadet jobs.
The figures are an early sign of strong travel demand as summer arrives and an indication that the system is ready for heavy volumes of passengers, with few disruptions reported in recent days.
For the travel industry, the big question is how long consumers can keep paying for airline tickets and accommodations while they deal with stubborn high inflation, news about layoffs and bank failures, and fear of a recession.
The aim of the rules would be, for the first time, to require airlines to pay compensation beyond a ticket refund and to cover expenses that consumers incur if the airline causes a cancellation or significant delay.
Airlines are trying to avoid a rerun of last year, when they were caught unprepared for a rapid recovery in air travel.
American, Southwest and United Airlines are under pressure to match or beat terms that rival Delta Air Lines accepted with its pilots.
U.S. airline passenger levels this summer are projected to be “comfortably above” pre-pandemic numbers, the head of the Transportation Security Administration said.
Southwest Airlines said an “intermittent technology issue” led to more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday morning.
The Justice Department said the $3.8 billion acquisition would hurt cost-conscious travelers who depend on Spirit to find cheaper options than they can find on JetBlue and other airlines.
Senators who want to impose tougher penalties when airlines strand or delay passengers say they finally might be able to turn their ideas into law because of outrage over debacles like the one at Southwest Airlines in December.
About 4,700 flights were delayed nationwide. Southwest scrubbed more than 500 flights, or about 12% of its entire schedule, while American dropped about 200 flights.
The report from United comes on the heels of upbeat comments by its closest rivals, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Officials with all three carriers say that consumers are still booking travel despite concern about the economy.
