Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg offered a sharp response Thursday to airline heads who voiced their expectations that President-elect Donald Trump's new administration will change the regulatory environment of the flying industry.
Buttigieg's comments came after the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines said they hoped Trump's new administration, which will take effect in January, will be more pro-business than President Joe Biden's administration.
What Did Delta and Southwest Say?
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said he expected the Transportation Department under Trump to "take a fresh look at the regulatory environment, the bureaucracy that exists in government, the level of overreach that we have seen over the last four years within our industry."
He said the incoming administration will be "a breath of fresh air" for his industry.
Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan said last week, "We are hopeful for a DOT [Department of Transportation] that is maybe a little less aggressive in terms of regulating or rule-making."
What Did Pete Buttigieg Say?
Buttigieg vaguely addressed the airline heads' comment during a news conference about Thanksgiving travel on Thursday.
"I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that the next administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than this administration," he said. "The passenger protections that we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support. I just don't run into a lot of people who are against the idea that you ought to get an automatic refund without any hassle, for example."
Buttigieg argued that strong passenger protections are also good for the airlines.
"Some of these companies have been showing very healthy profits even at this new and higher level of consumer protection, demonstrating to me that these things can travel together," he said in an apparent reference to Delta.
Delta has been the most profitable U.S. airline in recent years, earning $2.6 billion in the first nine months of this year and $4.6 billion last year.
What Rules Has the Biden Administration Enforced?
In April, the DOT issued a new rule requiring airlines to automatically issue cash refunds to passengers within a few days for canceled flights and "significant" delays.
At the time, the DOT issued a rule requiring airlines to more clearly disclose fees when they advertise flight prices, prompting airlines to sue the DOT in an effort to kill the rule. Judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked enforcement of the rule in July while the case is litigated.
Airlines have also opposed a current DOT inquiry into their frequent-flyer programs.
Buttigieg wrote to the CEOs of Delta, Southwest, American Airlines and United Airlines in September, asking each for a report on policies, fees and other features of their loyalty programs.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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