Washington, D.C. — In response to news that the U.S. Department of Transportation has opened an investigation into Delta Air Lines to examine whether it is following consumer protection rules and regulations as it continues to grapple with soaring flight cancellations and delays after last week’s IT outage, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.

“It’s refreshing to see a DOT Secretary who is committed to swiftly enforcing the law against major airlines rather than waiting for them to voluntarily change their behavior,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation and Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Just as Secretary Buttigieg got tough on Southwest late last year—which led to a change in its behavior after an unprecedented enforcement action—it’s now time to get tough on Delta. This is the biggest airline in the world by revenue, which is why it can’t be allowed to weasel itself out of compensating passengers after the past five days of delays and cancelations. Delta must also immediately stop the practice of texting offers of ’eCredits’ when current DOT rules clearly state passengers are due cash if their flights are canceled for any reason.”

“Since this move follows the DOT’s significant new rule on automatic refunds and other enforcement actions,” added McGee, “we are hopeful this investigation will result in meaningful consequences and justice for consumers.”

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.