Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) is introducing bipartisan legislation with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to improve airline transparency surrounding delayed flights.
Simply put, Rep. Lee's Frequent Logistics Information for Grounded and Held Travelers (FLIGHT) Act requires airlines to announce to passengers when a flight is delayed by more than 15 minutes and then provide further information every 15 minutes thereafter.
"Every traveler knows the frustration of sitting at the gate with little or no information about when their flight will take off," said Rep. Lee in her press release, adding, "Too often, passengers are stranded at airports or even stuck on the tarmac for hours, without meaningful updates. While some delays are unpreventable, airlines can do more to keep customers informed. The FLIGHT Act is a commonsense step to require airlines to provide timely updates so families can adjust their plans accordingly. Senator Scott and I are proud to advance this accountability measure as we work to make air travel more reliable."
Similarly, Sen. Scott said, "I am thrilled to have Congresswoman Laurel Lee leading the companion legislation on my FLIGHT Act in the House of Representatives."
"While sometimes unavoidable and completely understandable, flight delays cause frustration and ruined plans that can be costly for passengers who made their plans around timeframes provided by the airlines and are often left in the dark amid endless delays," Sen. Scott continued, adding, "Our bill, the FLIGHT Act, will reduce that frustration by requiring airlines, in the case of flight delays, to provide passengers an update every 15 minutes until their flight is ready for takeoff. This is a simple solution to bring transparency for passengers and make traveling a little less annoying for families."
Lee's bill comes on the heels of Representative Maxwell Frost's (D-FL) reintroduction of the Safe Air on Airplanes Act, which phases out "bleed air" systems from commercial aircraft that can cause fume events when the toxins found in jet fuel leak into the plane's air circulation system.
