DENVER — U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a new airline passenger protection partnership during a news conference at Denver International Airport Tuesday.
Buttigieg, who was joined by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, said the system will prioritize misconduct cases when unfair or deceptive airline practices are discovered. When a state's attorney general makes a preliminary finding an airline has broken the law, it will get fast-tracked for priority review and enforcement in appropriate cases.
Attorneys general will be given access to the federal complaint database, and a formal mechanism will be created for them to report airlines to USDOT for failing to respond, in an effort to get airlines to cooperate with state investigations.
“This agreement and partnership with the DOT will allow my office to directly serve Colorado consumers when they file complaints about unfair or deceptive airline business practices and creates a process to ensure DOT prioritizes complaints we refer," Weiser said.
So far, 18 state attorneys general representing the following states have signed Memoranda of Understanding that "will ensure that state attorneys general and the DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection are closely collaborating on complaints involving unfair or deceptive practices by airlines," the USDOT said.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, the United States Virgin Islands and Wisconsin.
In addition, seven attorneys general representing Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington have expressed an interest, the release said.
Kyle Clark spoke with Buttigieg about the project, whether the Biden administration's electric vehicle goals are unrealistic outside wealthy areas and the I-70 express lanes that are only open part of the time.
> Watch 9NEWS original shows, live Colorado news and weather updates, daily forecasts, and sports coverage for free on the 9NEWS+ app on Roku and Fire TV.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and 9NEWS+ Daily, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates, and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS.