Major Airlines Accused of Influencing DOT to Suppress Charter Operators, Sparking Consumer Backlash

A record number of consumers have filed complaints against the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for proposing a rule that would ban the business model of public charter operators like JSX, which offer flights with 30 or fewer seats from private terminals.

According to a blog post by travel expert Gary Leff, the rule is the result of a lobbying campaign by some of the most powerful airline industry interests, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). The post claims that these entities have influenced the FAA to crack down on upstart air carriers without any data or evidence to support their safety concerns.

The post also accuses the FAA of being biased and secretive, and calls for the release of records of meetings and communications between FAA/DOT officials and airline lobbyists. The post cites the record number of consumer complaints that have been filed against the proposed rule, which is over 75,000 according to JSX. The post says that over 99.8% of the comments oppose the rule, and that this is the most comments ever received on a DOT or FAA proposed rule.

The post also compares this issue to other cases where the major airlines have tried to block or undermine their rivals, such as Norwegian Air, Emirates, and JetBlue. The post suggests that the major airlines are abusing their power and influence to stifle innovation and competition in the aviation industry.

The proposed rule is currently under review by the FAA, which has not announced a timeline for its final decision. The rule could have significant implications for the future of air travel in the U.S., as it could affect the availability, affordability, and convenience of flights for millions of travelers.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, viewfromthewing.com