FAA reauthorization

Good news for consumers in the coming FAA bill

by Charlie Leocha on February 2, 2012

Though consumers didn’t end up with a legislated three-hour tarmac-delay rule, nor did they manage to get a “Sense of Congress” comment about airline price transparency, there is a lot to cheer about in the bill that will probably be passed next week.

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FAA Reauthorization — it’s all over but the shouting

by Charlie Leocha on February 1, 2012

The good news — the FAA bill will finally move forward and the aviation community and the country at large can get on with necessary air transportation network improvements. The bad news — most meaningful consumer protection provisions have been stripped from the bill.

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Where was Congress two years ago on air transportation jobs?

by Charlie Leocha on September 7, 2011

In Washington, what has been ignored in terms of the FAA bill for seven years is now couched as a jobs program and may still be forgotten.

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Will Congress pass the FAA extension while “on recess”?

by Charlie Leocha on August 4, 2011

Stranger things have happened. It appears that since the House and Senate have not totally closed down, in an effort to thwart any recess appointments by President Obama, there may be a way to get the FAA reauthorization bill back on track through various parliamentary maneuvers.

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Senate leaders quiz airlines about magnitude of tax windfall

by Charlie Leocha on July 29, 2011

Sen. Rockerfeller (D-WV) and Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) have sent a letter to the leaders of America’s airlines asking them pointedly, how much money are they making from their absorbtion of monies that were formerly going to FAA taxes.

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Failure of FAA extension eliminated 7.5% air transportation excise tax — will passengers get lower fares?

by Charlie Leocha on July 22, 2011

Are consumers going to fall in to a 7.5 percent windfall at midnight tonight? With the failure of the Senate to vote on the FAA reauthorization bill extension, the FAA can no longer collect the excise taxes that fund the airport trust fund.

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21st FAA bill extension introduced with controversial essential air service reforms

by Charlie Leocha on July 18, 2011

The FAA Reauthorization Bill is facing its 21st extension. Amazingly, one of the few bills that everyone in Washington believes we need can not be passed.

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#1 Issue for consumers in FAA reauthorization is making airline hidden fees visible

by News Release on April 13, 2011

Three in five consumers said most important priority for legislators is requirement for airlines to disclose all fees, so travelers can see, compare full cost of trip

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Will this be the year for passenger rights?

by Christopher Elliott on February 22, 2011

The government wants to require airlines to include all required fees in the advertised price of its tickets, instead of breaking out each surcharge and creating the illusion of a cheaper fare. It would like more airlines to adopt contingency plans for lengthy tarmac delays, to report more data on delays and to notify customers promptly of delays.

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FAA Reauthorization — why you should care

by Charlie Leocha on February 18, 2011

Every few years, Congress looks carefully at the air transportation world. This is normally associated with its review of the Federal Aviation Administration and its funding. Unfortunately, Congress has not been able to agree on a new funding formula and other issues have kept the current FAA legislation from being passed for more than three years. The bill has been extended 17 times.

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