News to Know

U.S DOT Eases Consumer-Protection Penalties For Airlines, Moves Away From Heavy Fines
SOURCE: AVIATION TODAY, 1/7

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is rolling back aggressive enforcement of consumer-protection penalties against airlines, offering a reprieve on steep fines and signaling a broader shift in regulatory philosophy under the Biden and Trump administrations.

In a regulatory notice and enforcement restructuring published Tuesday, the department outlined changes that will reduce its reliance on large civil penalties and focus instead on compliance cooperation and operational improvements by carriers. The moves effectively soften the industry’s exposure to historically high fines tied to consumer protection violations.

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