Klobuchar, a member of the Commerce Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee, is a national leader for passenger protections in aviation; She was a leading advocate for the Passenger Bill of Rights, which protects consumer from unreasonable tarmac delays

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing to examine current airline passenger protections and needed improvements following this week’s forcible removal of a ticketed passenger on Flight 3411 from Chicago, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky.

“I am writing to urge you to hold a hearing to examine current airline passenger protections and needed improvements. Airline passengers deserve to be treated fairly and with respect throughout their entire journey – from booking and boarding to flying and landing. The removal of a passenger from United Express Flight 3411 on April 9, 2017 has raised important questions about protections for airline customers and, in particular, the removal of passengers for reasons other than safety,” wrote Klobuchar. 

Yesterday, Klobuchar and a group of senators urged United Airlines to provide more information following the forcible removal of the ticketed passenger on Flight 3411. In the letter, Klobuchar called on United Airlines to provide a more detailed account of the incident and United’s policy on boarding then removing ticketed passengers to accommodate United Airlines personnel.

Klobuchar, a member of the Commerce Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee, is a national leader for passenger protections in aviation. She was a leading advocate for the Passenger Bill of Rights which was included as part of the 2012 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, which protects consumer from unreasonable tarmac delays. She also supported the establishment of the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protection in the 2012 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization. She has also supported efforts to ensure that ancillary fees are reasonable and proportional to the actual cost of providing the service. She also introduced the Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act to require training for flight attendants on recognizing and reporting suspected human trafficking. A provision based on this bill was included in the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act that was signed into law last year.

The full text of Klobuchar’s letter is below.

Dear Chairman Thune and Ranking Member Nelson,

I am writing to urge you to hold a hearing to examine current airline passenger protections and needed improvements.

Airline passengers deserve to be treated fairly and with respect throughout their entire journey – from booking and boarding to flying and landing. The removal of a passenger from United Express Flight 3411 on April 9, 2017 has raised important questions about protections for airline customers and, in particular, the removal of passengers for reasons other than safety. 

The Department of Transportation’s 2011 rulemaking and the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 both included important reforms to help passengers, but this recent incident is yet another reminder that our work in protecting airline consumers is not yet done. 

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to working with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

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