PRIA Logo™
119-s-3347119th CongressWALLET

Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act

Sponsored By: Senator Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

Introduced

Summary

Passenger cash compensation for cancellations and long delays would be required nationwide and tied to international standards. The bill would mandate cash payments, automatic rebooking, and reimbursement for meals, hotels, and ground transportation when a disruption is the carrier's fault.

Show full summary
  • Families and other travelers would be entitled to cash payouts and expense reimbursements. The committee would recommend minimums aligned with Canadian and EU rules, and an interim rule would set a $750 cash payment for carrier-attributable cancellations or delays.
  • Air carriers, including foreign carriers, would have to provide no-cost rebooking or alternate transport, cover meals, provide hotel lodging and ground transport for overnight disruptions, and pay for provable damage to passenger property.
  • The Department of Transportation would create an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop recommendations within 12 months and then issue rulemaking, with an interim final rule required within 18 months to ensure protections while the final rule is developed.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Passengers get $750 for delays

If enacted, an interim rule would take effect two years after enactment. If a cancellation or significant delay is directly attributable to the carrier, the carrier would provide $750 to each affected passenger for that incident. The carrier would offer another seat or alternate transport at no extra cost if you accept. The carrier would provide a meal or meal credit and, for overnight disruptions, provide or reimburse hotel lodging and ground transport to and from the hotel.

Federal rulemaking for passenger compensation

If enacted, the FAA would set up an Aviation Rulemaking Committee within 90 days to recommend passenger compensation rules. The committee would include airlines, airports, consumer groups, DOT staff, and the FTC and must report within 12 months. The Secretary would have 90 days after that report to publish a proposed rule. The bill would also treat foreign airlines as 'air carriers' for these protections so foreign-operated flights could be covered.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

AZ • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]

    VT • I

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation