The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed a
five-year reauthorization act for the FAA that omits many of the changes that
had been under discussion over the past several years.
Among the biggest omissions: The act makes no provisions for
a proposal, backed by President Donald Trump, to remove air traffic control
from the FAA and put it under a nonprofit corporation governed by a board that
would include airline representatives. U.S.
Senate opposition pulled that proposal from the bill last year, and
it remains off the table this year.
The bill also left out a proposal to regulate change fees,
baggage fees and other ancillary charges to ensure they are
"reasonable." That proposal had been included in a Senate-passed
version of the bill. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker had said a change fee
cap could spur airlines to prevent travelers from changing nonrefundable
tickets altogether.
Additionally, the bill does not increase the passenger facility
charge. Global Business Travel Association executive director and COO Michael
McCormick praised that omission, saying the charge "is essentially a tax on the cost of doing business."
Provisions That Are
in the Bill
Seat sizes: The
bill calls on the FAA within the next year to set minimums on seat pitch,
length and width "that are necessary for the health and safety of
passengers."
Disruption
communication: The bill requires airlines, when facing widespread
disruptions related to computer system failures, to publish "via a
prominent link on [its] public internet website" a statement detailing
whether it will offer such arrangements as hotel accommodations, ground
transportation or meal vouchers.
Passenger removals: The
bill bans the involuntary
bumping of passengers from aircraft after they have boarded.
Voice calls: The
bill bars passengers from making voice calls on mobile devices during flights.
No U.S. carrier currently allows this, anyway.
Supersonic potential:
The bill calls on the FAA over the next few years to reexamine regulations on supersonic
aircraft, including noise standards. Currently, aircraft are not
allowed to exceed the speed of sound while over U.S. soil.
The house passed the bill on Wednesday by a vote
of 398 to 23. The House also passed a short extension beyond the Sept. 30
deadline for the Senate to pass the bill. Should it pass, it will be the first
time since 1982 that a full five-year reauthorization for the FAA has passed.