U.S. appeals court blocks airline fee disclosure rule

30/7/2024 12:10

        A U.S. appeals court blocked on Monday the U.S. Transportation Department's new rule on upfront disclosure of airline fees pending a full review of the regulation, dealing a significant setback to the Biden administration.
        
        Final rules issued by the DOT in April required airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees alongside the airfare, in a move to help consumers avoid unneeded or unexpected fees, as part of an effort to tackle such fees over the last three years.
        
        However, the rule "likely exceeds DOT's authority and will irreparably harm airlines", a three-judge panel of the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said, while granting the industry's request for a temporary block.
        
        The case will be scheduled for a hearing at the next available session for oral arguments, it added.
        
        American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines were among the airlines, joined by trade group Airlines for America and the International Air Transport Association, which sued in May to block the rules.