DOT Delays New Cancellation and Delay Refund Rule Until 2027

A new Department of Transportation rule that will change airlines’ requirements to support impacted travelers for specific reasons, including a cyberattack, a government shutdown or a system failure, was expected to take effect on Monday, October 19, but has been delayed until February 1, 2027. 

According to USA Today, the delay of the amendment to the flight disruption categories was quietly reported in the October 15 Federal Register. 

Airlines for America reportedly requested the extension on September 21, noting that both airlines and the department needed more time to update their data collection systems and that starting in the new year was more “natural and logical.” 

How Will the New Flight Disruption Category Impact Travelers? 

Ten specific types of flight disruptions will be tracked in a new reporting category classified as outside an airline's control. 

This means airlines won’t be held accountable for flight delays or cancellations due to these circumstances, potentially leaving stranded travelers without eligibility for compensation, hotel vouchers or other support. 

"This is going to impact passengers in a very direct way," William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project, told USA TODAY in a previous article about this new rule. "If I had one thing to say about this, this is really going to hurt consumers because you’re going to be given fewer rights in terms of compensation through meals, hotels and things like that."

As of February 1, 2027, these ten incidents will no longer be listed as being under an airline’s control: 

— aircraft cleaning due to the death of a passenger

— aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, foreign objects or sabotage

— a baggage or cargo loading delay due to outages not controlled by the airline or its contractor

— a cybersecurity attack

— a government system shutdown or failure

— overheated brakes during a safety incident

— unscheduled maintenance

— a medical emergency

— the removal of an unruly passenger

— an airport closure due to weather events such as wind or volcanic ash

Travelers can view what support airlines have promised to provide impacted travelers when they encounter delays or cancellations for specific circumstances on the Department of Transportation’s Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard.

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