US Proposes Relaxing Penalties on Airlines for Consumer Protection Violations

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (C) speaks during a news conference at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Oct. 28, 2025. Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesThe Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed easing penalties for airlines that violate consumer protection rules, provided the companies take steps to resolve the issues, according to a Jan. 6 notice published in the Federal Register.The department is seeking to revise the investigatory and enforcement policies of its Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP), a unit within the department’s Office of the General Counsel.