Rules

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 requires covered U.S. carriers
and U.S. airports to submit to the Secretary of Transportation for review and approval tarmac
delay contingency plans on or before May 14, 2012. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s
Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (Enforcement Office) will be establishing an
electronic submission system to enable covered airlines and airports to submit the required plans
through the World Wide Web. The Enforcement Office plans to issue another notice within 45
days that will provide information on how covered carriers and airports can submit these
required plans. Submissions of the plans should not be made prior to that date to ensure proper
review and recording.

By this order, we are extending for an additional 30 days the emergency exemption authority from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 41101 granted to carriers with authority under 14 CFR Part 125 in connection with Haiti relief efforts. That exemption, first granted by Order 2010-1-10, issued January 14, 2010, will expire on February 14, 2010. This 30-day extension of that emergency exemption will allow those carriers to continue to provide assistance in the carriage of freight and people affected by the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake, and the transport into the affected areas of relief personnel and supplies.

By this order, we grant carriers with authority under 14 CFR Part 125 emergency exemption authority from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 41101. This exemption will allow those carriers to provide assistance in the carriage of freight and people affected by the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake, and the transport into the affected areas of relief personnel and supplies

SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is issuing a final rule to improve the air travel environment for consumers by: Increasing the number of carriers that are required to adopt tarmac delay contingency plans and the airports at which they must adhere to the plan’s terms; increasing the number of carriers that are required to report tarmac delay information to the Department; expanding the group of carriers that are required to adopt, follow, and audit customer service plans and establishing minimum standards for the subjects all carriers must cover in such plans; adding carriers to those required to include their contingency plans and customer service plans on their websites; increasing the number of carriers that must respond to consumer complaints; enhancing protections afforded passengers in oversales situations, including increasing the maximum denied boarding compensation airlines must pay to passengers bumped from flights; strengthening, codifying and clarifying the Department’s enforcement policies concerning air transportation price
advertising practices; requiring carriers to notify consumers of optional fees related to air transportation and of increases in baggage fees; prohibiting post-purchase price increases; requiring carriers to provide passengers timely notice of flight status changes such as delays and cancellations; and prohibiting carriers from imposing unfair contract of carriage choice-offorum provisions. The Department is taking this action to strengthen the rights of air travelers in the event of oversales, flight cancellations and delays, ensure that passengers have accurate and adequate information to make informed decisions when selecting flights, prohibit unfair and deceptive practices such as postpurchase price increases and contract of carriage choice-of-forum provisions, and to ensure responsiveness to consumer complaints.