DOT to launch dashboard for travelers to compare airline cancellation policies

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) will launch an interactive dashboard that will allow travelers to compare a comparative summary of airline cancellation policies.

In a letter addressed to CEOs in the airline industry, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that although it is not reasonable to expect carriers to adhere 100% to schedules as air travel returns, the level of disruption that American travelers faced this summer is “unacceptable”.

“In the first six months of 2022, roughly 24% of the domestic flights of U.S. airlines have been delayed and 3.2% have been canceled,” Buttigieg said in the letter dated August 18, 2022.

“When passengers do experience cancellations and delays, they deserve clear and transparent information on the services that your airline will provide, to address the expenses and inconveniences resulting from these disruptions,” Buttigieg added.

Buttigieg said that the DOT is creating a dashboard tool for passengers to locate comparative summary information on the services or amenities that each of the main U.S. airlines provide when the cause of a cancellation or delay was due to circumstances within the airline’s control.

In the letter, the DOT also asked airlines to provide meal vouchers for delays of three hours or more at a minimum, and provide lodging accommodations for passengers who must wait overnight at an airport due to disruptions within the carrier’s control.

The dashboard will be launched on September 2, 2022 via the Department’s Aviation Consumer Protection website.