consumer rights for air travel

U.S. proposes new consumer protection rules for airline passengers

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Air Travel Consumer Report: Consumer Complaints Against Airlines Rise More Than 300 Percent Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

OST 20-22 Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of April 2022 for on-time performance, consumer complaints received, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. DOT remains committed to ensuring airline passengers are protected fairly and is concerned about recent cancellations and flight disruptions. It uses the data from the ATCR, consumer complaints, and other information it secures from the airlines to inform its enforcement activities and the adequacy of existing rules.

Flight Operations

In April, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to result in significant changes to airline schedules and operations. The 566,893 flights operated in April 2022 were 86.9% of the 652,533 flights operated in pre-pandemic April 2019. Operated flights in April 2022 were up 20.3% year-over-year from the 471,375 flights operated in April 2021 and down 2.6% month-over-month from the 581,434 flights operated in March 2022.

In April 2022, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 580,290 scheduled domestic flights, 13,397 (2.3%) of which were canceled. In April 2021, the same airlines reported 473,936 scheduled domestic flights, 2,561 (0.5%) of which were canceled. In March 2022, airlines scheduled 590,542 domestic flights, of which 9,108 (1.5%) were canceled. In April 2019, airlines scheduled 668,259 domestic flights, of which 15,726 (2.4%) were canceled.

April 2022 On-Time Arrival

In April 2022, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.0%, down from 77.2% in March 2022 and 79.8% in pre-pandemic April 2019. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2022 is 76.3%.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates April 2022 (ATCR Table 1)

• Delta Air Lines Network – 81.9%
• United Airlines Network – 80.9%
• Hawaiian Airlines – 80.8%

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates April 2022 (ATCR Table 1)

• JetBlue Airways – 53.3%
• Frontier Airlines – 58.4%
• Spirit Airlines – 58.5%

April 2022 Flight Cancellations

In April 2022, reporting marketing carriers canceled 2.3% of their scheduled domestic flights, higher than the rate of 1.5% in March 2022, and lower than the rate of 2.4% in pre-pandemic April 2019.

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights April 2022 (ATCR Table 6)

• Delta Air Lines Network – 1.1%  
• Hawaiian Airlines – 1.4%   
• American Airlines Network – 1.6%    

Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights April 2022 (ATCR Table 6)

• Spirit Airlines – 10.3%    
• JetBlue Airways – 9.0%    
• Alaska Airlines Network – 3.8%    

Complaints About Airline Service

In April 2022, DOT received 5,079 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 14.8% from the 4,423 complaints received in March 2022 and up 321.5% from the 1,205 complaints received in pre-pandemic April 2019.

Of the 5,079 complaints received in April 2022, 3,173 (62.5%) were against U.S. carriers, 1,409 (27.7%) were against foreign air carriers, and 497 (9.8%) were against travel companies. 

Also, of the 5,079 complaints received in April 2022, 1,641 (32.3%) concerned refunds. The Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection continues to communicate with airlines and travel companies that receive refund complaints to ensure compliance with the refund requirements. Many passengers who had initially been denied refunds have received the required refunds. The Department has taken and will take enforcement action against noncompliant airlines and ticket agents as necessary.

Flight problems was the second highest category of the complaints received in April 2022. Of the 5,079 complaints received, 1,549 (30.5%) concerned cancellations, delays, or other deviations from airlines’ schedules. The Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) routinely contacts airlines with widespread cancellations or delays to remind them of their obligation to promptly refund passengers who choose not to accept the alternative offered for a canceled or significantly changed flight. Airlines are also required to have and adhere to a customer service plan that identifies the services that the airline provides to mitigate passenger inconveniences resulting from flight cancellations and misconnections. The Department monitors airlines’ actions and reviews complaints that it receives against airlines to ensure that consumers’ rights are not violated.

Tarmac Delays

In April 2022, airlines reported 33 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to seven tarmac delays reported in March 2022. In April 2022, airlines reported one tarmac delay of more than four hours on international flights, compared to zero tarmac delays reported in March 2022. 

Airlines are required to have and adhere to assurances that they will not allow aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights without providing passengers the option to deplane, subject to exceptions related to safety, security, and Air Traffic Control related reasons. An exception also exists for departure delays if the airline begins to return the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers by those times.

Extended tarmac delays are investigated by the Department.

Mishandled Baggage

In April 2022, reporting marketing carriers handled 40.0 million bags and posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.55%, a lower rate for the March 2022 rate of 0.57% and lower rate for the pre-pandemic April 2019 rate of 0.56%.

In the previous three calendar year reports (2019 to 2022), the Department calculated the mishandled baggage rate based on the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags. The Department is now displaying the mishandled baggage data as a percentage (i.e., per 100 bags enplaned). This is consistent with the manner that the mishandled wheelchairs and scooters rate is calculated and displayed.

Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters

In April 2022, reporting marketing carriers reported checking 61,475 wheelchairs and scooters and mishandling 896 for a rate of 1.46% mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, higher than the rate of 1.43% mishandled in March 2022 and also higher than the rate of 1.35% mishandled in pre-pandemic April 2019.

Bumping/Oversales

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly. For the first quarter of 2022, the 10 U.S. reporting marketing carriers posted an involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, rate of 0.44 per 10,000 passengers, higher than both the rate of 0.08 in the first quarter of 2021 and the rate of 0.32 in the first quarter of 2019.

Incidents Involving Animals

In April 2022, carriers reported one incident involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, up from the zero reports filed in March 2022 and equal to the one report filed in pre-pandemic April 2019. April 2022’s incident involved the death of one animal.

Complaints About Treatment of Disabled Passengers

In April 2022, the Department received a total of 162 disability-related complaints, up from both the 119 disability-related complaints received in March 2022 and the 80 complaints received in pre-pandemic April 2019. 

Complaints About Discrimination

In April 2022, the Department received eight complaints alleging discrimination – five complaints regarding race, one complaint regarding national origin, and two complaints regarding color. This is down from the 19 complaints received in March 2022, but up from the five complaints recorded in pre-pandemic April 2019.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints online at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm .cfm or by voicemail at (202) 366-2220, or they may mail a complaint to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

The ATCR and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

Here are airline passenger rights to know during a travel meltdown

As hundreds of thousands of passengers experienced flight delays and cancellations this week , TPG kept getting the same question: "What are airline passengers' rights?"

It's not a simple question to answer, but essentially right now, airline passengers in the U.S. don't have many true rights during what is called colloquially an "act of God." Airlines often blame the weather when almost anything goes wrong — and truthfully, the weather is often involved, at least as a triggering event. That's certainly the case this time, as summer thunderstorms pounded the country and disrupted travel from Chicago to Newark.

Bad weather can have cascading, nationwide effects on airline operations. So, sometimes you might run into a "weather"-related cancellation or delay even though it's clear and sunny outside your window.

New air passenger rights rules are currently under consideration by the U.S. Department of Transportation, but even the rules the department is actively considering wouldn't apply to extreme weather situations.

This is where having a travel credit card that offers trip protection and covers weather-related scenarios can help. The card can offset the cost of unexpected expenses you incur (like a hotel night, ground transportation and unexpected meals) to help close the gap.

While the current list of airline passenger rights is small, some rules are in place to help with travel disruptions. Here's what you are currently entitled to when things go sideways with your air travel plans, as well as what could be coming down the road (or skies) in the future.

Related: These are the best credit cards for built-in trip protection

You're entitled to a refund

In accordance with the DOT policy , every airline passenger is entitled to a cash refund when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed, or when the schedule is significantly changed … if they ultimately choose not to fly.

That goes for weather-related disruptions and those that are technically the airline's responsibility, like maintenance issues.

Now, a few caveats on that refund:

• You're only entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your trip: If you fly from New York to Washington, D.C., your return trip gets canceled and you decide to take the train home, you're owed a refund only for the return portion of your trip.
• If you accept the airline's rebooking offer, you're not eligible for a refund.
• The DOT does not actually define what constitutes a significant delay or schedule change, electing to determine whether a customer is owed a refund on a case-by-case basis. President Joe Biden's administration is aiming to provide some clarity on this , though.

Compensation during airline delays

At the moment, the federal government does not technically require airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays that are the airline's responsibility. The Biden administration does hope to change this, though. More on that in a moment.

However, as shown on the DOT's airline customer service dashboard, most major U.S. airlines provide meals, meal cash or vouchers when delays cause a wait of three hours or longer.

Additionally, most major carriers guarantee hotel accommodations when delays lead to an unexpected overnight stay, plus the necessary ground transportation to and from the hotel. The only airline that doesn't guarantee this, according to the dashboard? Frontier Airlines.

Remember that these are for so-called controllable delays — the ones that are technically the airline's fault, like those due to aircraft maintenance or a staffing problem.

Notably, these guarantees do not apply to flights affected by bad weather or air traffic control problems.

Compensation for airline cancellations

Like with delays, airlines aren't required to compensate passengers for canceled flights. However, most major U.S. carriers do provide some guarantees for the cancellations deemed to be their responsibility. (Again, this doesn't apply to weather disruptions.)

All 10 carriers evaluated by the DOT guarantee meals, meal cash or vouchers when cancellations lead to a wait of three hours or longer for a new flight.

Every airline — except Frontier — guarantees complimentary hotel accommodations for these covered cancellations leading to an unexpected overnight stay, plus ground transportation to and from the hotel.

Related: Tips for using social media to contact the airlines

The 24-hour refund rule

Let's say you book an airline ticket, then find a better deal. Or, you realize your just-booked itinerary won't work for you, or you selected something you didn't intend.

There's good news: Per DOT policy, in the U.S., airlines must do one of two things: provide penalty-free refunds to passengers who cancel within 24 hours or allow customers to place a 24-hour hold on a ticket without purchasing it.

This goes even for basic economy tickets and those that are technically "nonrefundable."

Several airlines provide for changes and cancellations beyond 24 hours, depending on the fare type, but they all have to give a 24-hour window of some sort.

Those rules came into effect in 2012 when the DOT ordered airlines to allow passengers to cancel a nonrefundable booking or reservation within 24 hours of purchase as long as the booking is made at least seven days before the flight.

Tarmac delay rights

Airlines should not leave you on a plane on the tarmac for hourslong delays. Airlines have gotten much better about letting passengers off planes if they can't get clearance to take off in a reasonable amount of time because the DOT cracked down on long tarmac delays by issuing rules in 2010.

Airlines are now required to provide food and drinking water after passengers have been sitting for two hours or more on a plane on the ground. Airlines must allow passengers to get off by the three-hour mark for domestic flights and four hours for international flights. If the airline doesn't follow these rules, it is subject to large fines from the DOT.

Interestingly, some have argued that these rules have actually made delays worse. Either way, passengers have a right to avoid sitting indefinitely on the tarmac, unable to get off the plane.

New airline passenger rights under consideration

While the majority of U.S. airlines guarantee things like meal vouchers and a complimentary hotel night when they are responsible for a major delay or cancellation, the Biden administration wants to go even further.

In May, the DOT announced a plan to propose rules that would require airlines to compensate passengers for these so-called controllable cancellations and delays. (Again, this wouldn't apply to bad weather and other factors outside the airline's control.)

As part of the proposed rulemaking, the DOT also hopes to provide more clarity around the types of delays or cancellations that would make a passenger eligible for compensation.

If ultimately approved, the rule would seemingly bring consumer protections a bit more in line with those in the European Union under the provision known as EU261.

A DOT spokesperson told TPG, "DOT has taken unprecedented action to protect and expand travelers rights when airlines cause cancellations and delays. Before Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg was sworn in, none of the largest U.S. airlines guaranteed meals, hotels, or transportation when they were the cause of a cancellation — now 10 guarantee meals and transportation and nine offer hotels. Additionally, this Administration has helped return over a billion dollars in refunds to travelers, has fined airlines at all-time highs, and is continuing to fight to expand passengers' rights."

Major airline trade groups have criticized the proposals, pointing to existing guarantees by airlines for meals, hotels and ground transportation; they warn that regulations could drive up costs for all passengers.

The DOT has separately proposed requiring airlines to proactively inform passengers if they're entitled to a refund and to issue refunds for paid services (like Wi-Fi) that the customer doesn't actually receive.

Will there be a new airline passenger bill of rights?

Some political leaders want to go even further than the current air passenger rules being proposed by the DOT.

Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ed Markey of Massachusetts have written a law that would enshrine rights to airline passengers — much as the Bill of Rights protects the rights of Americans.

"I am taking this renewed debacle as more evidence of the need to provide not only refunds but also additional compensation like the $1,350 if flights are delayed more than four hours, which is part of my bill of rights. $1,350 on top of refunds and alternative transportation expenses. Because the only message that the airlines seem to understand is dollars and cents," Blumenthal shared with TPG.

"And if they have to pay a penalty beyond refunds and beyond paying for alternative transportation, it will get their attention. And also giving passengers the right to sue, the right to legal recourse is very important because the Department of Transportation isn't always as vigorous as it should be."

Under the proposed legislation, airlines would be required to refund tickets for flights delayed as little as one hour and provide alternative transportation. They would also be required to pay for food and hotels. Finally, the bill would forbid airlines from using weather as an excuse for delays and cancellations when it's actually their fault.

A challenge for passengers is that, even with that proposed legislation, there is an "out" for weather or other acts of God. It's not clear if the current situation or the meltdown Southwest Airlines suffered during Christmas would be considered weather-related or not for the purposes of coverage by that bill of rights.

But these proposed new airline passenger bills of rights are a long way from passage. Airlines for America has called the legislation "short-sighted" and promised to campaign against it.

Related: This EU261 claim netted a passenger $1,900 for a delayed flight

Bottom line

We wish we had better news to share with you, but the current list of airline passenger rights is short.

Regarding delays and cancellations due to weather, the airlines have a lot of wiggle room in compensating passengers. That said, just like during Southwest's Christmas week meltdown , we are hopeful the airlines will do the right thing and make consumers whole for costs like meals, lodging and alternate flights in the end.

That said, you will need to be your own best advocate these days. Keep a record of all expenses and report your case directly to the airline for compensation. If you don't get relief, you can always contact your representatives in Congress and even file a complaint with the DOT.

The worst thing they could tell you is no. Even then, if you used the right credit card to book your ticket , you'll still have an avenue to recoup some of your additional expenses.

Additional reporting by Sean Cudahy.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know this summer
• Your flight is delayed or canceled: Here's what to do next
• The best travel credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• Here's how to get through airport security faster

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Air Travel Consumer Report: February 2022 Numbers

OST 14-22 Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of February 2022 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, complaints received, and oversales. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. It also contains information on complaints involving passenger and baggage security screening received by the Transportation Security Administration. The ATCR and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at  https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer.

In February, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to result in significant changes to airline schedules and operations. The 496,531 flights operated in February 2022 were 87.9% of the 564,614 flights operated in pre-pandemic February 2019. Operated flights in February 2022 were up 50.5% year-over-year from the 329,969 flights operated in February 2021 and down 6.0% month-over-month from the 528,070 flights operated in January 2022.

In February 2022, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 519,952 scheduled domestic flights, 23,421(4.5 %) of which were canceled. In February 2021, the same airlines reported 350,170 scheduled domestic flights, 20,201 (5.8%) of which were canceled. In January 2022, airlines scheduled 563,737 domestic flights, of which 35,667 (6.3%) were canceled.

February 2022 On-Time Arrival

In February 2022, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76.6%, up from 75.3% in January 2022 and 73.8% in pre-pandemic February 2019. The year-to-date on-time arrival rate for 2022 is 75.9%.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates February 2022 (ATCR Table 1)

• Hawaiian Airlines – 87.1%
• Delta Air Lines Network – 82.8%
• Alaska Airlines Network– 82.8%

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates February 2022 (ATCR Table 1)

• JetBlue Airways – 61.8%
• Allegiant Air – 65.1%
• Frontier Airlines – 68.0%

February 2022 Flight Cancellations

In February 2022, reporting marketing carriers canceled 4.5% of their scheduled domestic flights, lower  than the rate of 6.3% in January 2022 and 3.1% in pre-pandemic February 2019.

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights January 2022 (ATCR Table 6)

• Hawaiian Airlines – 0.2%
• Alaska Airlines Network – 1.5%
• Delta Air Lines Network– 2.4%

Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights January 2022 (ATCR Table 6)

• American Airlines Network – 7.2%    
• Allegiant Air – 5.7%    
• JetBlue Airways – 5.1%    

Tarmac Delays

In February 2022, airlines reported eight tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to 14 tarmac delays reported in January 2022. In February 2022, airlines reported zero tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights, compared to five tarmac delays reported in January 2022.

Airlines are required to have and adhere to assurances that they will not allow aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights without providing passengers the option to deplane, subject to exceptions related to safety, security, and Air Traffic Control related reasons. An exception also exists for departure delays if the airline begins to return the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers by those times.

Extended tarmac delays are investigated by the Department.

Mishandled Baggage

In February 2022, reporting marketing carriers handled 32.0 million bags and posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.60, a lower rate than the January 2022 rate of 0.81% and the pre-pandemic February 2019 rate of 0.63%.

In the previous three calendar year reports (2019 to 2022), the Department calculated the mishandled baggage rate based on the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags. The Department is now displaying the mishandled baggage data as a percentage (i.e., per 100 bags enplaned).  This is consistent with the manner that the mishandled wheelchairs and scooters rate is calculated and displayed.

Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters

In February 2022, reporting marketing carriers reported checking 33,545 wheelchairs and scooters, mishandling 578 for a rate of 1.72% mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, lower than the rate of 1.84% mishandled in January 2022 and equal to the pre-pandemic February 2019 rate of 1.72%.

Bumping/Oversales

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly.

For the fourth quarter of 2021, the 10 U.S. reporting marketing carriers posted an involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, rate of 0.23 per 10,000 passengers, higher than the rate of 0.16 in the third quarter of 2021 and the rate of 0.03 in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Incidents Involving Animals

In February 2022, carriers reported zero incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, down from the one report filed in January 2022 and equal to the zero reports filed in pre-pandemic February 2019.

Complaints About Airline Service

In February 2022, DOT received 3,733 complaints about airline service from consumers, down 26.7% from the 5,091 complaints received in January 2022 and up 249.9% from the 1,067 complaints received in pre-pandemic February 2019.

Of the 3,733 complaints received in February 2022, 1,890 (50.6%) were against U.S. carriers, 1,299 (34.8%) were against foreign air carriers, and 539 (14.4%) were against travel companies. 

Also, of the 3,733 complaints received in February 2022, 1,688 (45.2%) concerned refunds. The Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection continues to communicate with airlines and travel companies that receive refund complaints to ensure compliance with the refund requirements. Many passengers who had initially been denied refunds have received the required refunds. The Department has taken and will take enforcement action against noncompliant airlines and ticket agents as necessary.

Flight problems was the second highest category of the complaints received in February 2022. Of the 3,733 complaints received, 568 (15.2%) concerned cancellations, delays, or other deviations from airlines’ schedules. The Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection routinely contacts airlines with widespread cancellations or delays to remind them of their obligation to promptly refund passengers who choose not to accept the alternative offered for a canceled or significantly changed flight. Airlines are also required to have and adhere to a customer service plan that identifies the services that the airline provides to mitigate passenger inconveniences resulting from flight cancellations and misconnections. The Department monitors airlines’ actions and reviews complaints that it receives against airlines to ensure that consumers’ rights are not violated.

Complaints About Treatment of Disabled Passengers

In February 2022, the Department received a total of 116 disability-related complaints, down from the 143 disability-related complaints received in January 2022, but up from the 59 complaints received in pre-pandemic February 2019. 

Complaints About Discrimination

In February 2022, the Department received three complaints alleging discrimination – two complaints regarding race and one complaint regarding religion. This is down from both the five complaints received in January 2022 and from the 14 complaints recorded in pre-pandemic February 2019.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints online at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm or by voicemail at (202) 366-2220, or they may mail a complaint to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

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Air Travel Consumer Reports

The Air Travel Consumer Report is a monthly product of the Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. The report is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by the airlines. The most recent report was issued on March 1, 2024.

Air Travel Consumer Reports

• February 2024 Air Travel Consumer Report
• 2024 Air Travel Consumer Reports 
• Air Travel Consumer Report Archive

How the Report is Organized

The report is divided into the following sections:

• Flight Delays  
• Mishandled Baggage, Wheelchairs and Scooters
• Oversales  
• Consumer Complaints  
• Airline Reports of the Loss, Injury, or Death of Animals During Air Transportation
• Customer Service Reports to the Transportation Security Administration

The sections that deal with flight delays, mishandled baggage, wheelchairs and scooters; and oversales are based on data collected by the Department's Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The section that deals with consumer complaints is based on data compiled by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP). The section that deals with customer service reports to the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is based on data provided by TSA. The section that deals with animal incidents during air transport is based on reports required to be submitted by airlines to the OACP. Each section of the report is preceded by a brief explanation of how to read and understand the information provided.

The report is usually issued during the second week of each month. Oversales are reported quarterly rather than monthly, and oversales figures may be slightly older than the other data in certain months. The report, which contains tables of information, is best printed in "landscape" orientation.

Additional air travel data can be found on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics website .

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Consumer Protection   //

Along with the continuing liberalization of air transport regulation, the protection, and improvement of airline passenger rights has gained greater importance.

A significant number of States, in recent years, have adopted regulatory measures concerning  for instance access to air travel for passengers with reduced mobility, price transparency and obligation of the carrier toward passengers in case of flight disruption (flight cancellation, flight delay or denied boarding due to overbooking).

At the industry level, many airlines have adopted voluntary commitments (i.e. non-legally binding self-regulation) to clarify or improve their policies or practices with regard to certain customer services (such as fare offers, ticket refunds, denied boarding, flight delays and cancellations, baggage handling, response to complaints, and special passenger needs), often in response to public pressure and to avoid regulatory measures.

ICAO has also done considerable work in the field of consumer protection.

ICAO's work in the field of consumer protection

First of all, the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air ( Montreal Convention ) adopted by a diplomatic meeting of ICAO member states on 28 May 1999 contains some provisions granting rights to the passengers.

• The convention provides that the carrier is liable for damage sustained in case of death or bodily injury of a passenger if the accident which caused the death or injury took place on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations of embarking or disembarking (article 17.1).
• The carrier shall also be liable for damage sustained in case of destruction or loss of, or of damage to, checked baggage if the event which caused the damage took place during any period within which the checked baggage was in the charge of the carrier (article 17.2).
• Finally, the convention also mentions that the carrier is liable for damage occasioned by delay in the carriage by air of passengers, baggage or cargo, except if the carrier can prove that he took all the measures to avoid the damage (article 19).

Please click here for the  current status of parties to  the Montreal Convention .

Moreover, ICAO also developed guidance material in such areas as conditions of carriage, fare guarantee, baggage, tariff disclosure, denied boarding and code sharing. This guidance can, among others, be found in the Policy and Guidance Material on the Economic Regulation of International Air Transport ( Doc 9587 ).

In 2003, ICAO was already aware of the issue of consumer protection. Indeed, the  Fifth Worldwide Air Transport Conference (Montréal, 24–28 March 2003) concluded that States should minimize differences in the content and application of regulations, with a view to avoiding legal uncertainty that could arise from the extra-territorial application of national laws. As recommended by ATConf/5, and in order to assist States, the Secretariat developed a summary of airline and governmental responses to some of the more prominent consumer protection issues.

In accordance with the eleventh meeting of the ICAO Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP/11), held in June 2012, ICAO has carried out a study  on the effectiveness of consumer protection regulations .

On the occasion of the Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference (Montréal, 18 to 22 March 2013), ICAO acknowledged the fact that more and more states were adopting regulations in the field of air passengers rights and that a coordinated approach was needed.  Pursuant to the recommendation of this conference, and as endorsed by the Council and the Assembly (A38), ICAO has developed, after consultation with States, the Core Principles on Consumer Protection. These are designed as guidance for States and concerned industry stakeholders in dealing with consumer protection matters.

The Core Principles on Consumer Protection , are divided in three parts depending whether they should be implemented before, during or after the travel. ICAO encourages all Member States and concerned industry stakeholders to give regard to and apply the ICAO Core Principles in policy-making, and in regulatory and operational practices. Recognizing the dynamic nature of the air transport industry, the Core Principles will be a "living document", which would be refined and improved from time to time in the process of their implementation, based on the experiences gained and feedback received. The adoption of these Core Principles is a significant step towards regulatory and operational convergence and compatibility in this area.

The full text of the ICAO Core Principles on Consumer Protection can be found here .

During its 39th session , the Assembly once again invited the Member States to adopt unified systems for the protection of traveler rights.

Finally, the project proposal " iPLAN: Planning for Travel Disruptions " of the ICAO Voluntary Fund can be found here .

ICAO's data base on aviation specific consumer protection regulations

Summary of the main passenger rights implemented in ICAO's member states

A comprehensive summary of the different practices currently implemented in the Member States regarding aviation-specific consumer protection regulation and passenger assistance has been created in this working paper . 

In December 2019, ICAO conducted a survey among its Member States on the assistance to passengers stipulated in their national legislations and observance of ICAO core principles on consumer protection. The analysis and report of the survey is available here . 

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Airline Consumer Rights

Flier beware: airline wrongs, consumer rights

George Hobica is a syndicated travel writer and the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. He has written for Travel + Leisure , National Geographic Traveler , Men’s Health , Good Housekeeping , Real Simple , and dozens of newspapers around the world.

When you buy a $25 toaster you get a booklet of directions and a warranty; buy a $1,000 airline ticket and you get neither. But airline tickets do come with a guarantee of sorts; you just never see it. It's usually called something like the "terms of transportation" or "contract of carriage," and, combined with industry-wide regulations called the Domestic General Rules Tariff (DGR-1) and the Fare Rules, it tells you what your rights are in case something goes wrong—lost luggage, missed connections, and so on. Airlines are supposed to give you a copy of their statement on request, according to Terry Trippler, who has just published a summary of the codes called, appropriately, Airline Rules Guide. But while you're waiting to receive your very own copies of all these documents, here are some of the most common things that go wrong and what your rights are.

Stranded overnight? You may be on your own. Many people think that if an airline strands them in a distant city owing to weather or mechanical delays, the FAA requires the carrier to feed and house them. In fact, no law requires this; it's entirely up to the airline on a case-by-case basis. Most rules state that airlines have no liability whatsoever if the delay is due to weather or air traffic, but they will try to help in other circumstances.

Non-refundable tickets. To cite one example, US Airways' terms of transportation flatly state: "No refunds will be made for 'non-refundable' tickets." However, according to DGR-1, if an airline cancels or even delays your flight for any reason or if a late flight makes you miss a connection, you're entitled to a full or partial refund of the fare paid. If you're over 62, British Airways will refund a non-refundable ticket with no penalty.

Canceled flights. If an airline cancels your flight for any reason, it will probably offer you a seat on the next flight out. But what if the next flight doesn't suit your schedule?Most airline rules specify that if the delay wasn't due to a strike or other force majeure, you're entitled to take the next flight out period, even if it's on another airline. If you've bought a coach ticket and only first class is available on the next flight, you're entitled to that, too.

Lost luggage. If you start out on a U.S. airline, then connect to a foreign airline overseas, and somewhere along the way your bags are lost, you might assume you're entitled to claim up to $1,250, the maximum baggage liability for U.S. airlines. In fact, the international limit of $9.07 per pound applies, and you must make your claim against the foreign carrier.

Delayed luggage. Let's say you arrive in Las Vegas for a three-day hiking trip in the Grand Canyon but your bags don't. No law requires the airline to reimburse you for replacement gear, but most airlines will spot you a reasonable amount. United, for instance, will treat a delay like a loss (up to $1,250 in compensation), according to its rules. Just save receipts.

Fare decreases. After you buy a ticket, the fare goes down. Are you entitled to a full or partial refund?Airlines are not in sync on this issue. Some will charge you $50 to reissue the ticket but will give that back to you in the form of a future travel voucher if you agree to take the entire refund (reissue fee plus fare difference) as a voucher. British Airways, on the other hand, extends a full refund with no change fee.

Make airlines pay for cancelled flights and lost luggage, Coalition argues in 'Pay on Delay' bill

The Coalition has argued for domestic travellers to be compensated when airlines delay or cancel flights, or when their luggage is lost or damaged in transit, as their 'Pay on Delay' bill is debated in the Senate.

The legislation introduced by Coalition senators Bridget McKenzie and Dean Smith would create new protections for passengers by obliging airlines to provide refunds or compensation where an airline chooses to cancel or delay flights, where a passenger is denied boarding for a purchased flight, or where luggage is lost or damaged.

Airlines would also be required to ensure passengers "complete their itinerary" where the delay is outside of their control, such as in weather and security events.

Additionally, the code of conduct would also create some minimum standards of treatment for passengers, including requirements that children under 14 be seated near to their parent or guardian.

The aviation industry has been under intense scrutiny since returning to the skies after the COVID pandemic, as rising ticket prices, widespread delays and cancellations, and accusations tickets for already-cancelled flights were knowingly sold to customers.

Almost a third of flights were cancelled or delayed over the January holiday period this year, with airlines little improved after the industry was knocked down by the pandemic.

Between the two major airline groups Qantas and Virgin, who dominate almost the entire domestic aviation industry, there were 1,305 flights cancelled in January alone.

Shadow Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie told the Senate compensation schemes existed in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, but in Australia passengers were "left stranded".

"This issue transcends mere inconvenience. It's a matter of fairness, transparency and respect for Australian consumers," Senator McKenzie said.

"Passengers travel under consumer protections when travelling internationally. Why shouldn't domestic passengers be operating under a similar framework?"

Senator McKenzie said if the government refused the opposition's bill it would be maintaining a "protection racket" for the airline duopoly.

Labor senator and former Transport Workers Union secretary Tony Sheldon said Senator McKenzie and the Coalition had the opportunity to address the issue when it was in government.

"We never heard a peep out of Senator McKenzie and her colleagues in the Liberals and Nationals in the nine years they were in government," Senator Sheldon told the chamber.

"All the times and ways Qantas ripped off their customers, all their staff during those nine years, there was no interest.

"It's clear this bill is nothing more than a political stunt."

 Qantas last year rejected suggestions it should pay compensation for delayed and cancelled flights, saying doing so would force them to increase air fares.

The airline said increased confusion and complaints would make travel more difficult and do nothing to reduce delays.

Qantas last month posted an $873 million half-year net profit , a 13 per cent fall that it largely attributed to air fares falling from their post-pandemic peak.

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See what’s fueling the return of supersonic passenger flights

More than two decades after the concorde’s last flight, several private companies are competing to bring supersonic travel to the masses.

In January, more than 100 people gathered at an airplane hangar in California to watch NASA unveil its X-59 demonstrator jet — a futuristic aircraft designed to travel faster than the speed of sound that has helped revive excitement for supersonic travel.

There hasn’t been a commercial supersonic passenger jet since the Concorde stopped flying in 2003. Since then, supersonic jets — which travel faster than the speed of sound — have been used primarily by the military. But the space agency’s unveiling of the X-59, designed and built in partnership with Lockheed Martin, comes as a growing number of private companies are vying to bring back supersonic travel for the commercial market.

Boom, Exosonic and Spike are among the companies promising modern supersonic travel that will be quieter, greener and more affordable than in the past. And at least one company — Hermeus — is exploring hypersonic flights, which would whisk passengers from New York to London in 90 minutes. But there are questions about whether these companies can make good on their claims given the economics of air travel and growing concerns about the impact of commercial aviation on the environment.

Here are five things to know about the effort to revive supersonic travel.

1. The sonic ‘boom’ could become a ‘soft thump’

NASA’s goal in developing the X-59 is to reduce the sonic boom — the thunder clap that resonates far and wide when an aircraft crosses the sound barrier. NASA scientists hope the demonstrator jet can prove that travel at supersonic speeds is possible without such earsplitting noise.

One key to quieting the boom comes from the plane’s design. The engine is mounted on top. The plane has a long, narrow nose and sculpted wing to help ensure the shock waves it creates as it speeds through the air are similar in strength and evenly spaced along the aircraft to create a gradual increase in pressure instead of the rapid jump that creates the loud bang, said Peter Coen, mission integration manager for the Quesst mission.

The sonic boom is around 105 PLdB, or perceived level of decibels, similar to that of the sound of a balloon popping next to you. In comparison, NASA says the X-59’s will sound closer to a car door slamming 20 feet away.

Turning the boom into a “soft thump,” as NASA hopes, could also improve the economics for commercial supersonic flights. It could mean an end to the U.S. ban on supersonic travel over land, which was enacted over noise concerns. That in turn could make commercial supersonic travel financially viable because airlines would be able to fly supersonic planes to more destinations.

Designing and building the X-59 took roughly five years. Testing is underway, and other phases of the project are expected to take another four. The total projected cost is $839 million, according to NASA.

2. There’s a flurry of interest from private companies

Nearly a half a dozen companies are competing to be the first to offer supersonic travel to the public — a curious interest at a time when much investment and innovation in transportation is focused on developing cleaner, more climate-friendly options that consume less fuel or alternative propulsion technologies such as batteries or hydrogen.

Denver-based Boom Supersonic is eyeing 2029 for the debut of its supersonic passenger jet, called Overture. The aircraft is expected to seat 64 to 80 passengers, according to Blake Scholl, the company’s chief executive. It will travel at Mach 1.7, or 1.7 times the speed of sound — more than twice as fast as a regular passenger airplane .

One company, Aerion — which had backing from major players in the industry including Boeing and Lockheed Martin to build a supersonic business jet — has already bowed out of the race. It shut down in 2021, unable to secure the funding to continue it work.

Industry analysts say venture capital and the mind-set that commercial supersonic sounds like a good idea has largely fueled the revival.

“It’s that Silicon Valley mentality that you put money down on 20 things for one that does well,” said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory. “Again, it sounds like a good idea. There’s a good market for air transport and people want to fly fast. We had Concorde in the past so it sounds right — so let’s put some money there.”

Bruce McClelland, a senior contributing analyst at aerospace and defense industry analysis firm the Teal Group, added, “A lot of projects attract money whether they’re completely viable or not.”

3. It promises sustainability

Companies say their new generation of supersonic jets will have a smaller carbon footprint, mostly because they will be fueled by sustainable aviation fuel. This is fuel is made from agricultural products including soybeans and animal fat.

But critics say that pledge ignores some significant realities. For instance, there isn’t enough sustainable aviation fuel for planes that exist today. The sustainable aviation fuel that does exist is more expensive — by some estimates two to four times the cost of fossil fuel.

And no matter the fuel, the reality is supersonic jets will always use more of it. According to a 2022 study by International Council on Clean Transportation, supersonic jets could use seven to nine times as much fuel as regular commercial aircraft while carrying fewer passengers. But NASA’s Coen contends that supersonic travel at least initially will be a very small part of overall CO2 emissions and a very small part of commercial aviation.

Even so, with airlines pledging to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, some say it’s hard to understand how supersonic jets fit into that framework.

4. It could be affordable for more people

The Concorde ended service because only a small slice of the flying public could ever afford a ticket, among other reasons, including a 2000 crash that killed 113 people and grounded Concorde’s supersonic planes for a year. But today’s entrepreneurs say supersonic travel can be affordable — though maybe not at first.

They point to Tesla and the burgeoning space tourism sector as an example of new modes of transportation that have and could eventually become accessible to a growing segment of the population.

Analysts have their doubts, though, given how difficult it is for commercial airlines to stay afloat. Supersonic jets will carry fewer passengers and consume greater quantities of fuel. If that fuel is sustainable aviation fuel, those costs increase even more.

“Essentially, the faster you fly, the more fuel you are burning per mile,” said Iain Boyd, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado at Boulder. “Supersonic is always going to be more expensive.”

5. It could get even faster

Hermeus, based in Atlanta is just one of the companies exploring the possibility of an even faster, hypersonic commercial passenger jet. While supersonic aircraft travel faster than the speed of sound, hypersonic aircraft travel at speeds five times faster or more.

Translated: that would make a flight between New York and London — a 90-minute trip — about the same as flying from New York to D.C. on today’s commercial aircraft.

The company’s Halcyon jet would travel at Mach 5 — or five times the speed of sound. A.J. Piplica, the company’s chief executive, said the company is laying the groundwork for Halcyon by building hypersonic drones that could be used for defense and national security purposes.

But the company is open about the technological challenges it faces developing such a fast aircraft. Today, there’s a less than 50 percent chance of getting Halcyon in the air, Piplica says — but he expects the odds to improve over time.

Even then, Hermeus — and all the start-ups — will have to convince the public to buy in and will have to grapple with growing concern about the impact of air travel on the environment. It could be a tall order.

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Spain: willingness to pay more for sustainable air travel by age and price increase

Self-reported willingness to pay more for a sustainable aircraft for spanish consumers as of september 2022, by age group and price increase.

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Show sources information Show publisher information Use Ask Statista Research Service

January 2023

September 2022

1,000 respondents

25 years and older

Online survey

The original question used by the source was, "Would you be willing to pay more to use more sustainable aircraft and what percentage more?" The source said that the survey was done with 1,000 people in Spain. Of those, 49.1 percent were men, 50.8 percent were women, and one percent were non-binary. The percentages that each autonomous community has, according to its volume population in 2021, are: Andalusia 17.10 percent, Catalonia 16.70 percent, Community of Madrid 14.20 percent, and Region of Valencia, 11.2 percent.

Other statistics on the topic

• Financial results of LOT Polish Airlines in Poland 2017-2022
• EBIT of LOT Polish Airlines in Poland 2005-2022
• Volume of freight on board in Poland 2020-2022, by airport
• LOT Polish Airlines passengers in Poland 2014-2022

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Statistics on " Air transportation in Poland "

• Leading airlines in Europe based on passenger numbers 2022
• Average ticket price of selected airlines in Europe 2021
• Commercial airlines EBIT in Europe from 2013-2024
• Air freight transport in Europe 2020, by country
• CO₂ emissions from civil aviation in the EU 1990-2021, by type
• Number of air routes in Poland 2016-2022
• Number of domestic and international takeoffs and landings in Poland 2016-2022
• Market share of air carriers in Poland 2017-2022, by business model
• Passenger load factor in Poland 2016-2022
• Financial data of Polish charter airline Enter Air 2012-2022
• Investment in airport infrastructure in Poland 2006-2021
• Poland: airport infrastructure maintenance expenditure 2006-2021
• Forecast number of passenger movements in Poland 2019-2035
• Number of domestic and international air passengers in Poland 2016-2022
• Number of international air passengers in Poland 2022, by country
• Number of passengers at airports in Poland 2020-2022, by carrier
• Share of carriers in the passengers traffic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Number of passengers at airports in Poland 2020-2022, by destination
• Average distance travelled by one air passenger in Poland 2018-2022
• Number of air passengers on regional and charter flights in Poland 2017-2022
• Number of passenger seats in scheduled air transport in Poland 2000-2022
• Volume of air freight transport in Poland 2017-2022
• Volume of cargo loaded and unloaded at airports in Poland 2022, by type of traffic
• Volume of cargo arrivals and departures in Poland 2016-2022, by type of traffic
• Volume of cargo arrivals and departures in Poland 2022, by airport
• Growth in volume of freight transport on board at airports in Poland 2022
• Share of regional airports in the passenger traffic handled in Poland 2017-2022
• Share of carriers in departing passenger traffic in Poland 2020-2022
• Number of domestic and international air passengers in Poland 2022, by airport
• Number of passenger movements in domestic traffic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Number of passenger movements at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Number of passengers on domestic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Number of passengers on domestic and global flights at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Growth in passenger traffic on domestic flights in Poland 2020-2022, by airport
• Number of scheduled passenger aircraft in Poland 2020-2022, by type
• Number of civil aircraft in Poland 2019-2022, by type
• Number of civil aircraft in service in Poland 2022
• Number of civil helicopters in Poland 2019-2022, by type
• Number of aircraft and helicopters registered by natural persons in Poland 2017-2022
• Profit/loss of Polish air carrier LOT 2009-2022
• Forecast number of passengers at Polish airports 2025-2040
• Forecast volume of cargo transport at Polish airports 2025-2040
• Solidarity Transport Hub in Poland: investment outlays 2020-2034
• Solidarity Transport Hub in Poland: increase in gross value added 2020-2034

Other statistics that may interest you Air transportation in Poland

European market overview

• Premium Statistic Leading airlines in Europe based on passenger numbers 2022
• Premium Statistic Average ticket price of selected airlines in Europe 2021
• Premium Statistic Commercial airlines EBIT in Europe from 2013-2024
• Premium Statistic Air freight transport in Europe 2020, by country
• Basic Statistic CO₂ emissions from civil aviation in the EU 1990-2021, by type

Polish market overview

• Premium Statistic Number of air routes in Poland 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic and international takeoffs and landings in Poland 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Market share of air carriers in Poland 2017-2022, by business model
• Premium Statistic Passenger load factor in Poland 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Financial data of Polish charter airline Enter Air 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Investment in airport infrastructure in Poland 2006-2021
• Premium Statistic Poland: airport infrastructure maintenance expenditure 2006-2021
• Premium Statistic Forecast number of passenger movements in Poland 2019-2035

Passenger transportation

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic and international air passengers in Poland 2016-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of international air passengers in Poland 2022, by country
• Premium Statistic Number of passengers at airports in Poland 2020-2022, by carrier
• Premium Statistic Share of carriers in the passengers traffic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of passengers at airports in Poland 2020-2022, by destination
• Premium Statistic Average distance travelled by one air passenger in Poland 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of air passengers on regional and charter flights in Poland 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of passenger seats in scheduled air transport in Poland 2000-2022

Freight transportation

• Premium Statistic Volume of air freight transport in Poland 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Volume of cargo loaded and unloaded at airports in Poland 2022, by type of traffic
• Basic Statistic Volume of freight on board in Poland 2020-2022, by airport
• Premium Statistic Volume of cargo arrivals and departures in Poland 2016-2022, by type of traffic
• Premium Statistic Volume of cargo arrivals and departures in Poland 2022, by airport
• Premium Statistic Growth in volume of freight transport on board at airports in Poland 2022
• Premium Statistic Share of regional airports in the passenger traffic handled in Poland 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic Share of carriers in departing passenger traffic in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic and international air passengers in Poland 2022, by airport
• Basic Statistic Number of passenger movements in domestic traffic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of passenger movements at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of passengers on domestic at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of passengers on domestic and global flights at airports in Poland 2020-2022
• Premium Statistic Growth in passenger traffic on domestic flights in Poland 2020-2022, by airport
• Premium Statistic Number of scheduled passenger aircraft in Poland 2020-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of civil aircraft in Poland 2019-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of civil aircraft in service in Poland 2022
• Premium Statistic Number of civil helicopters in Poland 2019-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic Number of aircraft and helicopters registered by natural persons in Poland 2017-2022

LOT Polish Airlines and Solidarity Transport Hub

• Premium Statistic LOT Polish Airlines passengers in Poland 2014-2022
• Premium Statistic Financial results of LOT Polish Airlines in Poland 2017-2022
• Premium Statistic EBIT of LOT Polish Airlines in Poland 2005-2022
• Premium Statistic Profit/loss of Polish air carrier LOT 2009-2022
• Premium Statistic Forecast number of passengers at Polish airports 2025-2040
• Premium Statistic Forecast volume of cargo transport at Polish airports 2025-2040
• Premium Statistic Solidarity Transport Hub in Poland: investment outlays 2020-2034
• Premium Statistic Solidarity Transport Hub in Poland: increase in gross value added 2020-2034

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

Watch CBS News

Flying during the solar eclipse? These airports could see delays, FAA says

By Khristopher J. Brooks

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

March 28, 2024 / 7:04 PM EDT / CBS News

Air travel was already expected to pick up next week because of Spring Break, but Federal Aviation Administration officials  said  now until mid-April will be increasingly busy due to "the Great North American Eclipse."

Many Americans are planning on flying on April 8, the day when the U.S. will experience a total solar eclipse that will track across the sky from Texas to Maine. While some eclipse chasers will be heading toward states in its main path, others are timing flights to view it while airborne.

The eclipse "will likely mean crowded parking lots at airports and long lines at security checkpoints," Marisa Garcia, a senior contributor at Forbes,  told  CBS News. 

"It's going to be hectic but fun," she added. "Go with the mindset that it's going to be busy and pack light and pack carefully. Be patient and pleasant with everyone."

Passengers on the day of the eclipse should expect air traffic delays and an unusually high number of drones in the skies, FAA Senior Technical Advisor Kevin Morris said in an advisory  video . 

According to the FAA, these airports could see delays on April 8:

• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Indianapolis
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Toledo, Ohio
• Erie, Pennsylvania
• Austin, Texas
• San Antonio, Texas
• Burlington, Vermont

Garcia said American Airlines could see the biggest delays at Dallas-Fort Worth, the airline's main hub, which is squarely within the eclipse's path of totality  — where it can be seen in full. 

Officials in Erie, Pennsylvania, said they expect roughly 250,000 people to flock to the area for the eclipse. Meanwhile, tourism for the big event is expected to bring $1 billion to Texas . 

• Federal Aviation Administration

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.

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News & features, winter center, news / weather forecasts, rainstorm to drench, slow travel on east coast of us prior to easter.

A storm will spring up along the Atlantic coast through Friday and produce a narrow swath of drenching rain, which may slow travel and hinder outdoor activities.

By Alex Sosnowski , AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Mar 26, 2024 11:33 AM PDT | Updated Mar 28, 2024 10:29 AM PDT

Some coastal areas will face the potential of flooding as a storm slowly moves out into the Atlantic in the final days of March.

A front will slow down along the Atlantic Seaboard long enough to sync up with a storm from the southern United States to run northward through Friday. AccuWeather meteorologists say that how far inland the rain extends will depend on the storm's track. Some flooding is anticipated and at least some of the opening day Major League Baseball games have already been postponed.

The cool front that is hooked up to the same storm that dumped heavy snow on the northern Plains and the Upper Midwest at the start of the week continued to grind toward the East Coast at midweek. Enough moisture remained with the front to produce clouds and showers from New England to Virginia, with locally severe thunderstorms from the Carolinas to northern Florida .

Rain gathers on a window overlooking Citi Field during a rain delay of a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers Friday, April 26, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Typically, that would be the end of the story and within a few hours, the rain would move offshore and clearing would commence. However, the front will slow down and stall in this case. As this occurs, a disturbance will move northward along the front, resulting in bouts of heavier rain.

"How strong that storm becomes as it moves northward will determine the western extent of the drenching rain," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Dombek said. The difference of a few dozen miles may constitute drenching rain and localized flooding to an occasional shower to no rain at all.

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A stronger storm would move more slowly and track farther to the west, but if it stays weak, it will move faster with the heaviest rain staying farther east.

"At this time, the back edge of the heaviest rain will end up close to Interstate 95 from the mid-Atlantic to New England," Dombek said. "This puts many of the major cities, including Baltimore and Philadelphia on the edge of the heavy rain and lesser showers."

New York City and Boston will be in the soak zone.

Low clouds and rain may lead to airline delays at the coastal hubs in the Northeast.

Thursday was scheduled to be the first regular-season games of the year for a number of teams in Major League Baseball across the U.S. However, games scheduled in New York City and Philadelphia have already been postponed.

The back edge of the rain set up close to Baltimore into Wednesday night, but is forecast to creep eastward and away through the day Thursday. Dry air west of the storm may allow baseball to be played in Baltimore later today.

Enough rain may fall to lead to another round of flooding in poor drainage areas along the East Coast, including some city streets, as well as the formation of large puddles on some highways.

A general 1-2 inches of rain is expected from South Carolina to Maine from the storm. The heaviest rain is forecast to fall across portions of eastern North Carolina to southeastern New England, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 5 inches.

The rain, breezes and choppy water generated by the storm may hamper search and rescue efforts following the ship collision and collapse of the Frances Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore from early Tuesday morning.

"Many of the beach communities from Maryland to New Jersey, Long Island, New York; and Massachusetts will be in for a thorough soaking," Dombek added.

The combination of melting snow and drenching rain simultaneously will lead to significant runoff into small streams and rivers in northern New England. The 1-3 inches of water locked up in the snow in much of Maine and the coastal storm may bring 1-2 inches of rain, making the combined effect of 2-5 inches of runoff in a matter of 12-24 hours.

Heavy rain and the risk of localized flooding will also affect eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia.

The storm may work to keep tides elevated along the Atlantic coast until winds flip around to the west and northwest at the end of the week. Tides have been running high due to the proximity of the recent full moon.

Drier air will sweep across the mid-Atlantic region on Friday. Gusty winds may take away from the warming effects of the sun for those spending time outdoors. Forecasters recommend taking a jacket if heading out to ball games and egg hunts.

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