Travelers could lose access to lodging accommodation and meal vouchers during some flight disruptions under a new U.S. Department of Transportation classification, effective Oct. 19.
DOT as part of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization legislation has amended its regulations on how carriers report the causes of flight cancellations and delays, according to the Federal Register.
Since 2002, DOT has required reporting carriers to submit monthly data identifying the causes of flight cancellations and delays of 15 minutes or greater, with delays attributable to one of five categories: air carrier, extreme weather, national aviation system, security and late arriving aircraft. The air carrier category historically has included any delay or cancellation due to circumstances within control of the carrier, such as maintenance, crew scheduling or aircraft cleaning.
The revised rule, effective Oct. 19, adds a new category—known as Section 511(b)—to be used exclusively for 10 events that will be prohibited for use in the air carrier category:
- Aircraft cleaning necessitated by the death of a passenger
- Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, foreign object debris or sabotage
- A baggage or cargo loading delay caused by an outage of a bag system not controlled by a carrier or its contractor
- Cybersecurity attacks, provided that the air carrier is in compliance with applicable cybersecurity regulations
- A shutdown or system failure of government systems that directly affects the ability of an air carrier to conduct flights safely and is unexpected
- Overheated brakes due to a safety incident resulting in the use of emergency procedures
- Unscheduled maintenance, including in response to an airworthiness directive, manifesting outside a scheduled maintenance program that cannot be deferred or must be addressed before flight
- An emergency that required medical attention through no fault of the carrier
- The removal of an unruly passenger
- An airport closure due to the presence of volcanic ash, wind or wind shear.
What do these changes mean for airline passengers?
These 10 items no longer will be considered within an airline's control, and should a disruption be classified into this new category, the carrier's meal and hotel commitments might not apply. DOT is leaving it up to airlines to voluntarily provide assistance, such as with hotel or meal vouchers, based on their own customer-service commitments.
Industry lobbying group Airlines for America on Friday said that "before this change, airlines were held responsible for disruptions outside of their control. … Airlines have competitive policies to mitigate impacts on passengers for delays/cancellations within their control (such as crew delays or mechanical issues/scheduled maintenance)."
This is not DOT's first change of consumer protections or potential ones. The agency in September 2025 halted the department's air passenger compensation plan introduced during the Biden Administration that would have required airlines to offer travelers cash compensation and other amenities when flights were canceled or significantly delayed.
A4A's statement was part of a broader response to an Oct. 8 New York Times report that said the current administration is eroding airline passengers' rights.