PHOENIX – Attorney General Mayes this week sent a letter to Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema urging her to support an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2023 that would allow State Attorneys General to enforce federal airline consumer protections.
“Growing numbers of complaints show that airlines continue to mistreat consumers on a massive scale due to unsatisfactory oversight,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “State Attorneys General like myself stand ready and willing to hold these airlines accountable. We need Congress to allow states to protect airline passengers effectively.”
Current federal law prohibits State Attorneys General from enforcing consumer protection laws against airlines. Only the U.S. Department of Transportation is allowed to do so. The letter to Senator Sinema asks her to support an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 that would give State Attorneys General the authority to enforce federal consumer protection laws against airlines. The proposed amendment maintains the status quo of only subjecting the airline industry to uniform federal regulations.
However, recognizing the tremendous burden placed on the U.S. Department of Transportation, it aims to spread the enforcement responsibility across 50 states who could join with the U.S. Department of Transportation to hold airlines accountable.
Congress can spur change in the airline industry by addressing significant gaps in the current regulatory scheme. The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, including this amendment proposed by Senator Ed Markey, would remove the enforcement barriers currently preventing State Attorneys General from obtaining effective relief for consumers aggrieved by airlines.
Attorney General Mayes remains committed to ensuring that consumers in any industry feel protected against unfair and deceptive practices. If you believe you have been mistreated by an airline, you can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation here.
If you believe you are a victim of consumer fraud, you can file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. You can also contact the Consumer Information and Complaints Unit in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, and outside of the metro Phoenix area at (800) 352-8431.
