US airlines win a victory as Congress abandons "reasonable fees" rules

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US airline industry won Saturday's bipartisan congressional legislation, which called for "reasonable and proportionate" baggage and exchange fees.

After weeks of negotiations, a 1,200-page draft law to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was unveiled on Saturday, forcing the FAA to define minimum dimensions for passenger seats, including legs and width. after having crossed the boarding gate.

In April 2017, the video was broadcast on social media by David Dao, a 69-year-old passenger, who was dragged out of United Airlines (UAL.O) flew to Chicago O'Hare International Airport after he refused to give up his seat to make room for the crew members. United is excused and promised not to remove sitting passengers to make room for other passengers.

But airlines have been pushing hard against new rules limiting fees. US airline revenues from baggage changes and bookings increased from $ 5.7 billion in 2010 to $ 7.5 billion in 2017. Other fees are not reported to regulators.

The compromise bill did not include the words adopted by a Senate committee in 2017 that would have required reasonable pricing rules. Chairman of the Senate Committee on International Trade, John Thune, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Bill Shuster, Republican, as well as the Democrats on both committees, Senator Bill Nelson and Representative Peter DeFazio.

Congress is expected to vote on the measure next week before the September 30 deadline.

American Airlines Group Inc (AAL.O) became the last major airline Thursday to increase the price of checked luggage from $ 5 for the first bag to $ 30, joining Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL.N), United and JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU.O).

Airlines for America, a group of air carriers, said the royalty provision would result in "government-imposed price controls" and should be rejected and the Trump administration also opposed.

The bill also requires the US Department of Transportation to establish new rules to allow commercial UAV deliveries and allow the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to deactivate or destroy UAVs. pose a threat to government facilities. necessary legal authority to deal with the threats.

Under the bill, airlines must reimburse passengers for services they have paid but have not received and will legally prohibit passengers from calling during their flight or using electronic cigarettes.

The bill requires airlines to allow passengers to control strollers when traveling with a small child and to require regulators to be unfair or misleading to tell passengers that the flight is delayed or canceled involved. "

It also makes it illegal for anyone to place a living animal in a storage compartment, caused by indignation at the death of a dog in March in an air compartment of a United flight. It also gives the Transportation Department the authority to require airlines to allow pregnant passengers to board earlier.

The bill would also allow the return of "supersonic" transport with reduced sonic noise and provides $ 1.68 billion in additional funding for disaster relief after Hurricane Florence.

It also calls on the FAA to create an Office of Spaceports that will provide advice, support the licensing of space activities, and promote infrastructure improvements for future space travel.

The bill also addresses cases of sexual misconduct in aviation by establishing a working group to review practices and increase civil penalties for interference with cabin crew members or the police. flight crew.