Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Airline Freeze of Astronomical Increases in Rates Act” or the “AirFAIR Act”.
Airline Freeze of Astronomical Increases in Rates Act
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to ensure airfare fairness in the wake of a disaster or emergency, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Excessive aviation ticket price increases during disasters
In general— Section 41712 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Excessive ticket price increases during disasters
“(1) In general—It shall be an unfair or deceptive practice under subsection (a) for any ticket agent, air carrier, foreign air carrier, or other person offering to sell tickets for air transportation to impose an excessive increase in the price of such tickets in circumstances related to a disaster or emergency.
“(2) Regulations—The Secretary shall issue regulations to establish standards for determining whether an increase in a ticket price is excessive for purposes of paragraph (1). At a minimum, the standards shall ensure that an increase of 30 percent or more is treated as being excessive.
“(3) Definitions—In this section, the terms disaster or emergency means a disaster or emergency as declared by a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States.”
Unfair ticket pricing practices—
Study— The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall conduct a study on whether any ticket agent, air carrier, foreign air carrier, or other person offering to sell tickets for air transportation has engaged in unfair practices in the sale of such tickets in circumstances related to a disaster or emergency.
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.