Last week, Democratic Senators Edward Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse and Blumenthal along with nearly 20 House lawmakers introduced legislation to provide consumers an 'enforceable right to a full cash refund for flight and ticket cancellations.' Richard Blumenthal wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the FTC asking them to investigate 'the major airlines to ensure they are not engaging in unfair and exploitative business practices.'

In June, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Alex Padilla and Some lawmakers have said the Transportation Department (USDOT) already has the power to fine airlines who knowingly cancel flights because of foreseeable staffing issues citing USDOT authority to investigate whether airlines are engaged in 'unfair or deceptive practice' or 'unfair method(s) of competition.' It is the latest push by lawmakers to convince regulators to get tough on the aviation industry. The measure would repeal an exemption passenger airlines received from oversight by the FTC under a 1958 law. 'The airline industry must be held accountable for the harm they are causing: the missed life events, time separated from family and friends, and the stress of navigating a travel system that isn’t putting consumers first.' 'Stronger enforcement of the airline industry is urgently needed,' said Schakowsky. In a summer of growing frustration over tens of thousands of canceled flights, Representatives Jan Schakowsky and David Cicilline said their proposal would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general new powers to act. House Democrats on Tuesday proposed making it unlawful for airlines to offer flights if they know they lack sufficient staff or to cancel flights close to scheduled departures because of foreseeable staffing issues.

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