Airlines must give CASH refunds to passengers who canceled flights over coronavirus fears under Dem bill
AIRLINES would have to give cash refunds to passengers who canceled their own flights because of the coronavirus pandemic under a new Democratic bill.
Democratic senators introduced legislation on Wednesday that would require and third-party ticket sellers to give back billions of dollars to customers.
Airlines are already forced to offer cash refunds for flights they cancel, but air carriers aren’t required to do so for flights canceled by customers.
Since the , air travel has dropped significantly — around 95 percent — due to a fear of flying and the majority of Americans under .
Because of the drop in flight bookings, airlines have canceled thousands of flights over the past few months.
Senators who back the legislation that was introduced on Wednesday found that major US carriers had roughly $10billion from customers canceling flights.
Airlines only offered travel vouchers and credit towards future flights, instead of offering refunds.
“In light of this pressing need, and an unprecedented multibillion-dollar bailout, it’s absolutely unconscionable that the airlines won’t give consumers their money back,” Markey said.
“Airlines already have a moral responsibility tickets during the coronavirus pandemic. My new legislation will give them a legal responsibility, too.”
On Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The House is expected to vote on the package as soon as Friday, but has said there is no “urgency” to act on new legislation.