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US Cancels Flight Delay Compensation Plan
The US has pulled the plug on a proposed rule that would have forced airlines to pay up to $775 for long delays.
On November 15, 2025 the Trump administration announced it is canceling the US Department of Transportation (DOT) proposal that sought mandatory flight delay compensation. The rule under consideration would have required payouts — as much as $775 per passenger in some cases — for lengthy delays, bringing US policy closer to Europe’s EU261 standards.
Industry groups lobbied heavily against the plan, arguing it would raise operational costs and complicate airline scheduling. Passenger-advocacy groups had pushed for stronger protections, saying US flyers deserve clearer remedies when delays wipe out plans or connections.
What the cancellation means for flight delay compensation
The immediate effect is that no new federal mandate will require airlines to pay a set sum for delays. Airline obligations will continue to follow existing DOT rules on refunds and tarmac delays, and carriers retain flexibility to set their own delay‑compensation and rebooking policies.
- No federal flight delay compensation mandate — the proposed rule that could have required payouts up to $775 is no longer moving forward.
For travelers, the landscape is unchanged by regulation: if you experience a long delay, check your carrier’s contract of carriage and customer‑service policies. Keep receipts for extra expenses, document the disruption, and file a DOT consumer complaint if you believe an airline violated existing rules.
Looking ahead, advocates may push lawmakers or future administrations to revisit statutory remedies for delays, but for now the DOT proposal has been shelved and the US will not adopt an EU261‑style compensation regime via this rulemaking.
