The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- United States (U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings)
- Level
- Federal
- Authority
- 49 U.S.C. § 41712(a)
- Issued
- 2020-05-12 May 12, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-05-12
- End
- not withdrawn during the period (read as 2021-09-30)
- In force
- May 12, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Other
- Addressees
- U.S. and foreign air carriers
- ticket agents (travel agencies, online travel agencies)
- Functions reached
- CB airline and travel-agency customers
- OP
- MK travel agencies and tour operators
- Collection
- Aviation and surface-transport regulators AGY-AVIATION-SURFACE
Operative words
"The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department) is continuing to receive a high volume of air travel service complaints and inquiries given the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency on air travel. In a typical month, the Department receives approximately 1,500 air travel service complaints and inquiries. However, in March 2020 and April 2020, more than 25,000 air travel service complaints and inquiries were filed, many of which concern refunds. Airlines and ticket agents have also requested guidance about their refund obligations."
Enforcement
49 U.S.C. §§ 41712, 46301
Notes
Federal record of the scale of flight cancellations in March-April 2020 (complaint volume up seventeenfold) and of the refund duties imposed on carriers and ticket agents.