On October 19th, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will update how airlines report the causes of flight delays and cancellations. The change is designed to give travelers a clearer picture of why disruptions occur and whether they are truly within an airline’s control.
Under the new DOT rule, ten specific events, including cybersecurity attacks, unscheduled maintenance, and government system shutdowns or failures, must be reported in a separate category rather than under airline-controlled delays.
While the new rule increases transparency around flight disruptions, travelers will see more delays categorized as outside an airline’s control. As a result, compensation offered by the airlines during disruptions, such as meal vouchers or hotel accommodations, may be less likely in certain situations.
