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WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Biden-Harris administration revealed its final rule requiring airlines to be more transparent about pricing and to provide automatic cash refunds to customers with delayed or canceled flights. Alongside the announcement, new research from government watchdog Accountable.US revealed today that Airlines for America, a trade group, and six of its major airline members spent over $26 million while lobbying against the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) efforts to rein in airline junk fees. 

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Airline executives and their lobbyists want to continue gouging everyday consumers, which is why the industry is spending millions to keep their fees in place. The Biden-Harris administration’s new rule will help make cancellations and flight changes a pain of the past while lowering costs for millions.”

Accountable.US Liz Zelnick

Accountable.US found the companies—including United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and American Airlines—previously accepted over $40 billion in federal pandemic aid. Earlier this year, all six companies joined a lawsuit filed by Airlines for America attempting to block the new rule in the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Airlines for America has received nearly $11 million in membership dues from the six airlines that joined its suit against the Department of Transportation, according to airlines’ most recent political engagement reports. Meanwhile, it has spent $10.3 million since Q1 2023 while lobbying on numerous pieces of legislation aimed at reining in junk fees, including S. 209 and H.R. 659, the “FAIR Fees Act of 2023” and S. 916 and H.R. 2463, the “Junk Fee Prevention Act.”
  • Alaska Airlines, which joined Airlines for America in its lawsuit against DOT, paid $426,600 in membership dues to Airlines for America in 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska Airlines took over $2.2 billion in aid from the federal government to pay its workers’ wages, salaries and benefits.
  • American Airlines, which joined Airlines for America in its lawsuit against DOT, has spent $6.9 million since Q1 2023 while lobbying against both iterations of the FAIR Fees Act and paid over $5.5 million in membership dues to Airlines for America in 2022. American ended up taking over $12.8 billion in aid from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Delta Air Lines has spent $8 million since Q1 2023 while lobbying against the Department of Transportation’s delayed baggage and ancillary fees rule and its ticket refund rule. Meanwhile, Delta paid over $1 million in Airlines for America membership dues in 2023. Delta ultimately received $11.9 billion in aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Hawaiian Airlines has spent $970,000 since Q1 2023 while lobbying against legislation aimed at lowering junk fees and DOT’s ancillary service fees rule. Meanwhile, Hawaiian paid $254,400 in membership dues in 2023 to Airlines for America and received over $673.2 million in COVID aid from the federal government.
  • JetBlue Airways, which joined Airlines for America in its lawsuit against DOT, paid over $2.1 million in membership dues in 2022 and received over $2 billion in aid during the pandemic.
  • Finally, United Airlines, which joined Airlines for America’s lawsuit, received $10.9 billion in aid from the federal government and paid over $1 million in membership dues to Airlines for America in 2023.

 

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