President Joe Biden signed a new aviation legislation on Thursday that aims to improve US air travel. The five-year plan costing $105 billion increases the number of air traffic controllers, boosts funding to prevent runway accidents, and speeds up refunds for canceled flights.
What does the law entail?
This law reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and introduces several new rules. Airlines can no longer charge families extra fees to sit together, and planes must now have 25-hour cockpit voice recorders. The maximum fine for airline consumer violations has increased from $25,000 to $75,000. The law also enhances safety checks on aircraft production.
Senator Maria Cantwell said this law will help create the safest and most reliable aviation system in the world by placing more safety inspectors in plane factories and enforcing stricter safety standards.
Blocking airline mergers
President Biden has often criticized airlines for charging unnecessary fees and has pushed for stricter consumer protections. His administration has also blocked airline mergers, including a proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines and an alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines.
The law adds five daily round-trip slots at Washington National Airport, benefiting Delta Air Lines. It also requires the FAA to use advanced technology to prevent runway collisions.
Push on runway safety
A recent increase in near-miss incidents and an in-flight emergency on an Alaska Airlines flight have highlighted the need for improved aviation safety. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said the law will enhance runway safety technology, increase the number of air traffic controllers, and strengthen aircraft production oversight.
The law allows Boeing to continue producing its 767 freighter until 2033, despite new efficiency rules coming into effect in 2028. It addresses a shortage of 3,000 air traffic controllers by setting better staffing standards and hiring more inspectors and technical experts.
No change in pilot retirement age
The bill does not raise the pilot retirement age to 67, as some lawmakers wanted, and keeps current pilot training requirements. It also assigns the decision on minimum seat sizes to the FAA and mandates that the Transportation Department create a dashboard displaying the minimum seat sizes for each U.S. airline.
Other consumer protections, such as compensation for long delays, were not included in the final bill. The law also reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board, increases its staffing, promotes the use of drones and flying taxis, and extends existing government counter-drone authority through October 1.
(With Reuters Inputs)