Questions, Answers, and Perspectives on the Current State of Airline Travel

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, will convene a hearing titled “Questions, Answers, and Perspectives on the Current State of Airline Travel” at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2017. This hearing will explore consumer protections and the state of airline travel.

Following the forcible removal of an airline passenger on April 9, 2017, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who serve respectively as the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation along with Blunt and the subcommittee ranking member, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), sent letters of inquiry to United Airlines and the Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates O’Hare International Airport, on April 11. The committee received responses on April 26. United Airlines announced policy changes on April 27 developed in the aftermath of the incident designed to avoid such incidents in the future.

Witnesses:
 
- Commissioner Ginger S. Evans, Chicago Department of Aviation
- Ms. Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League
- Mr. Scott Kirby, President, United Airlines
- Ms. Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
- Ms. Sharon Pinkerton, Senior Vice President, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, Airlines for America
 
Hearing Details:
 
Thursday, May 4, 2017
10:30 a.m.
Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
 
This hearing will take place in Russell Senate Office Building, Room 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov.

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Majority Statement

  • Chairman Roy Blunt

Minority Statement

  • Bill Nelson

Testimony

  • Commissioner Ginger S. Evans

    Chicago Department of Aviation
    Download Testimony (226.88 KB)
  • Ms. Sally Greenburg

    Executive Director
    National Consumers League
    Download Testimony (157.79 KB)
  • Mr. Scott Kirby

    President
    United Airlines
  • Ms. Sara Nelson

    International President
    Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
    Download Testimony (362.83 KB)
  • Ms. Sharon Pinkerton

    Senior Vice President of Legislative and Regulatory Policy
    Airlines for America