US proposes rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays

December 2022 saw the highest cancellation rate of the year, largely due to Southwest Airlines cancelling 17,000 flights. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Ahead of what promises to be a busy summer for the travel industry, the US Department of Transportation is proposing new rules that would require airlines to compensate passengers for cancellations and disruptions caused by the airlines.

Airlines for now are required to issue refunds to passengers if flights are canceled or significantly delayed due to factors within an airline’s control, including staffing shortages and maintenance issues. But the proposed rules, if approved, would require airlines to offer cash compensation and accommodation vouchers in addition to those refunds.