Secretary LaHood Announces Members of Aviation Consumer Protection Committee

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Contact: Bill Mosley, Tel.: (202) 366-4570

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Members of Aviation Consumer Protection Committee

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of the four members of a new committee that will advise the Secretary on measures to protect the rights of air travelers.

The committee members are Lisa Madigan, Illinois attorney general, who will chair the committee; David A. Berg, senior vice president at Airlines for America (A4A); Deborah Ale-Flint, director of aviation at Oakland International Airport; and Charles Leocha, director of the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA).

"We are committed to protecting and strengthening the rights of consumers when they fly," Secretary LaHood said. "The members of this committee will help us build on the Administration's already strong record of protecting air travelers."

All of the committee members have demonstrated experience in both advocating for consumers and working for additional consumer protections:

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, signed by President Obama on Feb. 14, mandates the establishment of this committee. The law requires the Secretary of Transportation to appoint to the committee four members with one representative each of air carriers, airport operators, state or local governments, and nonprofit public interest groups with expertise in consumer protection. According to the law, the committee will terminate on Sept. 30, 2015. The committee's charter is available at https://www.fido.gov/facadatabase/docscharters/80474ACACP%20Charter%205-24-2012(2012-05-24-08-42-10).pdf

The committee will evaluate current aviation consumer protection programs and provide recommendations to the Secretary for improving them, as well as recommend any additional consumer protections that may be needed.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's recent aviation consumer protection activities include a wide-ranging rule issued last year that, among other things, required all airline advertisements to include the full price consumers would have to pay, required disclosure of all optional fees, and increased compensation for involuntary bumping. The Department is considering additional consumer protections in upcoming rulemakings.

The time and place of the first meeting and all subsequent meetings, which will be open to the public, will be published in the Federal Register.

DOT 59-12

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