Senator Ted Cruz
In his opening statement at today’s full committee hearing titled “Enhancing Consumer Protections and Connectivity in Air Transportation” Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed concerns that a rush to re-regulate passenger air travel could make it prohibitively expensive for many customers.
Sen. Cruz’s opening remarks as prepared:
“Before I address the topic of today’s hearing, I want to take a moment to touch on bipartisanship at this committee. I greatly appreciate that aviation has traditionally been a bipartisan effort. And I think that view is held by all members of this committee. Every one of us wants safe air travel. You want to board a plane and know you are safe. That all the pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground crew members are highly qualified people who will safely get you and fellow passengers to your destination.
“Because we all hold that basic sentiment about aviation, I am disappointed that today’s hearing about the rights of the flying public is so partisan. We are going to hear some very one-sided arguments about the regulation of airlines. It is my hope at future hearings, including the one planned for next week, that we can go back to the spirit of bipartisanship that we’ve had for so many years on the Committee – with a consensus panel of witnesses presenting a balanced view. If a hearing panel doesn’t present a diverse range of views, it defeats the purpose of a hearing.
“You’d think that a hearing about unfair airline policies might include…an airline. Perhaps we’d start with an airline that has the lowest customer satisfaction rating or employs some distasteful practices, such as charging customers to talk to a representative on the phone. That airline would be Frontier Airlines, whom I invited to testify. But Frontier, as well as their trade association, the National Air Carrier Association, refused to appear.
“Consumer protection is an important component of the traveling experience. Travelers every day get on airplanes – some love it, some dread it. I happen to enjoy flying, which is good because I spend hours on a plane every week. But if something goes wrong with a reservation or the weather, the experience can quickly become unpleasant. And sometimes, airlines miss on customer service, leaving travelers stranded, inconvenienced, or otherwise harmed. To try and end extremely miserable consequences when things go wrong, on multiple occasions Congress has legislated to protect consumers so they for instance, are not stuck on a tarmac for longer than two hours; have easy access to customer service; and are compensated if an airline overbooks a flight. However, while we look at potential legislation in this area, we need to be careful not to impose regulations that make flying more miserable or costly.
“One group of travelers whose needs we should pay particular attention to are those with disabilities. Congress recognized that persons with disabilities face unique challenges when flying by including in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization law specific provisions to improve their traveling experience. This included granting DOT the authority to issue civil penalties against airlines that damage or lose a person’s wheelchair. It is my understanding that five years later, the DOT has still not exercised this authority. I’m grateful that we’ll have the opportunity to hear the perspective of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) today. For PVA’s members, flying can prompt fear and anxiety. It’s not just a simple matter about getting where they need to go. Disabled passengers deserve to travel not just safely, but they deserve to travel with dignity.
“Another matter of great importance to the flying public is connectivity. Too often, communities become disconnected by the whims of large airlines. I’ve seen this happen in Texas as I’m sure many of us have with smaller towns in our states. One example is what’s happened in Del Rio where American Airlines is discontinuing service to Del Rio, Texas. I’m deeply concerned about the impact that action will have on residents and local businesses. And I’d like to hear today ideas for how to work through those kinds of problems.
“Finally, a note of caution. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was, by all indications, a success. Since deregulation, the price of air travel has fallen by more than 30 percent. And when there is vigorous competition among airlines offering service on a particular route, service is better and airfare is lower.
“Dr. Clifford Winston, an economist at the Brookings Institution, testified before this Committee last month that re-regulating airlines would inevitably lead to a cost transfer to consumers, raising prices, making family trips too unaffordable, and could cause more small communities losing service. I know I would have many unhappy constituents if I supported any legislation that made air travel more expensive. So I hope we will resist the temptation to micromanage travel schedules and pricing plans.
“I’d like to thank the witnesses for being here today to discuss this topic.”