The U.S. Department of Transportation is moving to scale back several longstanding consumer protections for airline passengers, prompting concerns from advocacy groups and lawmakers who argue the changes favor the airline industry at the expense of travelers.

Since Sean Duffy was sworn in as transportation secretary in January 2025, the department has undertaken a series of regulatory rollbacks, including modifications to rules on fare transparency, compensation for disrupted flights, and protections for disabled travelers. These measures have coincided with a notable decrease in enforcement actions against airlines, including the elimination of fines in the two years since Mr. Duffy assumed leadership.

One significant change involves pricing disclosures. In June, the department abandoned a Biden-era rule requiring airlines to display fees—such as those for checked bags and ticket changes—alongside the full fare during booking. This step came after airlines successfully challenged the rule in court. The following month, the department proposed reversing a 15-year-old mandate that required the total ticket price to be displayed more prominently and in a larger font than ancillary fees or taxes. The department says this proposal aims to provide a “common-sense adjustment” by allowing components like government taxes to be shown as prominently as the total price but not more so. Critics, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, argue the change would lead to misleading advertising and surprise fees for consumers.

The department has also moved to roll back efforts introduced under former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. It has shelved plans to guarantee families seating together at no extra cost, halted initiatives requiring cash compensation for significant flight disruptions, and expanded exceptions under which airlines are exempt from compensating passengers. Furthermore, enforcement of rules to protect disabled travelers, such as those pertaining to mishandled wheelchairs, has been repeatedly delayed amid ongoing legal challenges.

Under previous administrations, the Transportation Department routinely imposed fines on airlines for violations including tarmac delays, misleading fare information, and poor treatment of disabled passengers. From 2002 to 2025, the department annually levied at least half a million dollars in penalties. Since Mr. Duffy's appointment, no fines have been issued, and the department has dropped investigations, such as a 2023 lawsuit against Southwest Airlines related to chronic delays and a 2024 inquiry into Delta Air Lines following a software failure. Additionally, the department has waived at least $25 million in fines against carriers, including a record $140 million penalty against Southwest and a $50 million fine against American Airlines for disability-related violations.

Transportation officials defend these shifts as efforts to focus more on addressing the root causes of airline disruptions rather than relying solely on fines. They contend that no protections have been diminished and highlight ongoing regulatory actions to hold airlines accountable. In contrast, consumer advocates warn that reduced enforcement and regulatory changes represent a rollback of passenger rights, with increased financial burdens on travelers and declines in service quality.

The department’s evolving stance has sparked scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest stemming from Secretary Duffy’s previous role as an airline lobbyist. Several Democratic lawmakers have requested investigations into whether Mr. Duffy’s actions improperly favor the industry he once represented. The Transportation Department has noted that his prior lobbying work focused on international market access and not domestic aviation policy.

Passenger advocates point to rising delays and cancellations as evidence of deteriorating industry performance. Data from a nonprofit consumer group shows the worst on-time performance since 2014 and the highest number of tarmac delays since 2010 in the past year. The department is currently tracking 90 incidents for potential violations.

Observers characterize the current environment as a challenging period for airline consumers. “It’s a really dark period for airline passengers right now as far as consumer rights,” said William McGee, a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project. Critics underscore the perception that airline interests hold sway in regulatory decisions, potentially sidelining the concerns of everyday travelers.