Hi,

Airlines are causing huge disruptions to travelers by canceling flights,
delaying numerous other flights, and bumping passengers off of flights
they paid for. It doesn't have to be this way. It's time for the
government to act.

Senator Bernie Sanders just called on Transportation Secretary Pete
Buttigieg to use his vast regulatory powers to crack down on the
airlines.^1 He could fine airlines for delaying flights, issue full
refunds, and help stop the potentially fraudulent practice of airlines
selling tickets for flights they know will be canceled.

It's time for the federal government to protect passengers and crack down
on corporate greed. And as the summer travel season gets under way, it's
urgent that the government act quickly.

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Tell Pete Buttgieg to protect passengers and crack
down on airline malpractice!

ADD YOUR NAME

During the pandemic taxpayers gave the airlines more than $50 billion in
aid to help get them through the long periods of lockdown. Airlines were
supposed to use that money to keep their staff paid so that when
restrictions eased, they would have the staff to help get people flying
again.

Instead, many airlines furloughed or gave early retirement to their
staff.^2 And when the federal money ran out, rather than dig into their
own profits to keep staff employed, many airlines instead chose to raise
fares and operate without enough staff.

The result is chaos: people are missing weddings, funerals, family
reunions, graduations, business meetings, and other important events --
many of which were postponed during the first years of the pandemic.

There's precedent for expecting Pete Buttigieg to act. In 2010, President
Obama's Transportation Secretary issued the maximum fine, $27,500 per
passenger, for airlines that left planes on the tarmac over 3 hours.^3 It
worked.

Buttigieg could help end the plague of canceled and delayed flights and
ensure travelers aren't getting taken advantage of by the airlines. But we
need to urge him to act.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name: Tell Pete Buttgieg to protect passengers and crack down
on the airlines!

Thanks for taking action,

Robert and the team at Demand Progress

[ [link removed] ]DONATE

Sources: 
1. NBC News, "Bernie Sanders calls on Buttigieg to take action amid flight
delays, cancellations," [ [link removed] ]June 29, 2022.
2. The Washington Post, "Taxpayers spent billions bailing out airlines.
Did the industry hold up its end of the deal?," [ [link removed] ]December 14, 2021.
3. Reuters, "Airlines face fines for violating delay rule," [ [link removed] ]April 27,
2010.
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