DOT delays rule change on airline maintenance delays

A new federal rule that could change what passengers are owed after certain flight delays will be on hold for a couple more months.The new regulation could leave airlines off the hook to pay for passengers' expenses like meals and hotels due to some maintenance disruptions.The measure, which was part of a sweeping aviation bill passed by Congress in 2024, had been slated to take effect this week.But the U.S. Department of Transportation now plans to wait until the 2027 to implement the change.The U.S. Department of Transportation. HAPABAPA/GETTY IMAGESOnce in place, passengers stranded because of a mechanical delay or cancellation could have less luck getting the airline to pay for expenses that pile up.Airlines 'off the hook' to pay after some flight disruptionsToday, some airlines reimburse passenger expenses when a maintenance-related cancellation or long delay pops up. Those disruptions have historically been deemed "within the airline's control."Under the changes greenlit by Congress in 2024, certain unscheduled maintenance incidents would no longer be considered "controllable" by the airline.Among them: Unscheduled maintenance issues that can't wait until after the flight to ...