Buttigieg Says Automatic Airline Refund Rule to Survive FAA Bill

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he’s confident DOT’s recent rule requiring airlines to provide automatic refunds for flight cancellations and significant delays would hold up in the face of possible legal challenges, despite concerns that diverging requirements in a new legislative deal could undermine the regulation.

“We think our regulation is very strongly rooted in our legal authorities,” Buttigieg told reporters Tuesday following a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing. Still, he said it’s important for there to be “good harmony” between legislative text and the work DOT is doing, adding that lawmakers are currently discussing the refund issue.

• DOT last week ...