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HR 5453 101th Congress House

Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990

Official title: To establish an Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy in the Department of Transportation, to amend the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to establish minimum standa… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To establish an Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy in the Department of Transportation, to amend the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to establish minimum standards for air carrier passenger services, and for other purposes.

Introduced: August 2, 1990 See on congress.gov
Transportation and Public Works Airline passenger trafficConsumer educationConsumer protectionExecutive reorganization
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Federal advisory bodiesFines (Penalties)Restrictive trade practicesTelephone
This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 16, 1990
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Aug 2, 1990
Referred to the House Committee on Public Works + Transportation.
Aug 2, 1990
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 16, 1990

Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish in the Department of Transportation an Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy.

Establishes the Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy Advisory Group.

Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit air carriers from cancelling a flight within 72 hours of its scheduled departure time for any reason, except for safety reasons or the absence of any passengers at such departure time. Requires air carriers which cancel such flights for safety-related reasons to report to the Secretary on the cancellation, the reasons for it, and actions taken to resolve the safety-related problem. Requires air carriers to notify their passengers of any delays of 15 minutes or more in the departure or arrival of scheduled flights.

Requires an air carrier which cancels a flight in violation of this Act, or alters stopping places of such flight for any reason other than safety, to compensate passengers.

Prohibits on-time performance of regularly scheduled flights from being 30 percent or less in any consecutive three-month period.

Requires the Secretary to establish in the Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy a toll-free telephone number system for receiving passenger complaints relating to air service.

Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) ticket information; and (2) lost or damaged baggage claims.

Sets forth civil penalties for economic cancellations and consistently delayed flights by air carriers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5453: Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5453/
MLA
"H.R. 5453: Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5453/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5453, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5453/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5453: Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-5453/)
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