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☆ New federal rules on airline refunds require cash instead of vouchers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Gregory Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New federal rules say travelers deserve cash refunds when inconvenienced by their airline – not vouchers or travel credits. The rules require the fees to be automatic and prompt: Within seven days for a credit card refund and 20 days for other forms of payment. Surge in complaints in 2022The Biden Administration proposed its change to the refund rules in 2022 after a surge in complaints about refunds when the coronavirus brought air travel to a standstill. More than half of the complaints involved flight disruptions or refunds. A federal law allows Congress to unravel recently implemented executive branch rules.

Persons: “, Pete Buttigieg, CNN’s John Berman, ” Buttigieg, you’re, “ That’s, ”, There’s Organizations: CNN — Airline, ”, Transportation Department, Airlines for, Biden Administration Locations: –, Airlines for America, ” “ U.S, Washington, November’s

☆ A Situation Room scramble, daily calls and political intrigue: Inside the White House response to the Key Bridge collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

ET, overnight staffers in the White House Situation Room began frantically reaching out to senior officials to notify them of the collision – and collapse – of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Jen Daskal, the deputy homeland security adviser, began preparing a briefing for President Joe Biden. Two Oval Office meetings were convened as staff at various levels began trickling into the White House. Seven barges and nine tugboats have deployed to the area, according to Tom Perez, the White House director of intergovernmental affairs. In another case – that of Moore and Perez – the two have already opposed each other on the ballot.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Dali, Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key, Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Jeff Zients –, Jen Daskal, Joe Biden, “, ”, Johnny Olszewski – Biden, ” Olszewski, Biden, “ I’ve, ” Biden, –, Tom Perez, ” Perez, Perez, “ It’s, we’ve, Natalie Quillian, Moore, Perez –, that’s, ” CNN’s Donald Judd Organizations: Baltimore CNN —, US Coast Guard, CNN, Maryland Gov, Baltimore Mayor, White House, Baltimore, Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, Maryland, White, Administration, Democratic Locations: Wyoming, Montana, Maryland, Baltimore County, Washington, Delaware, Baltimore, Patapsco, synchrony, Federal, White, United States

The Chesapeake 1000 – the largest crane on the East Coast – is needed in the Patapsco River where a 984-foot cargo vessel slammed into the bridge Tuesday. Live updates: The latest on the Baltimore bridge collapseIn addition to the crane, three heavy lift vessels are expected to start arriving Friday, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN. This appraisal is critical in determining how small to cut the bridge pieces so cranes can lift them, he said. In addition to the human toll, the destruction of the Key Bridge and closure of the Port of Baltimore could lead to widespread economic fallout. In this NTSB handout, an investigator examines the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the cargo vessel Dali on March 27 in Baltimore.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Julia Nikhinson, ” Moore, Shannon Gilreath, Moore, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Buttigieg, “, Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, Marcel Muise, Dali, Peter Knudson, CNN’s Justin Lear, Andy Rose, Sarah Dewberry, Chris Isidore, David Goldman, Greg Wallace, Elise Hammond, Tori B, Powell, Sania Farooqui, Chris Boyette Organizations: CNN, Maryland Gov, Authorities, US Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety, Army Corps, Maryland Department of Labor, National Transportation, NTSB, India’s Ministry, External Affairs Locations: Patapsco, Baltimore, Maryland, Port, Port of Baltimore, America, New York, New Jersey, Vedika Sud

(AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns about railroad safety and scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year's fiery Ohio derailment. In a new letter to the freight railroads' main trade group, Buttigieg acknowledged that railroads say they are committed to safety. But he said too often regulators encounter resistance when trying to get the industry to do more to improve safety. And he said the Federal Railroad Administration's statistics don't show safety improving significantly over the past decade. But Buttigieg said that with two workers killed last year in rail yard accidents he's still concerned about those incidents.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Ian Jefferies, ” Jefferies Organizations: —, Federal Railroad, Association of American Railroads, Railroads, Union Pacific, AAR, BNSF, CSX, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Ohio, Palestine , Ohio, U.S, Nebraska, Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, East Palestine

With Boeing facing multiple government investigations, the company needs to make “a serious transformation” around its safety and manufacturing quality, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Monday. That followed the company's admission that it couldn't find records that the National Transportation Safety Board sought for work done on the panel at a Boeing factory. “We will continue to cooperate fully and transparently with all government investigations and audits, as we take comprehensive action to improve safety and quality at Boeing," the company said. Alaska Airlines said it is cooperating with the Justice Department investigation. She told a Senate committee that Boeing had repeatedly rebuffed her agency's attempts to get information ever since the blowout.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Max jetliner, ” Buttigieg, ”, Jennifer Homendy Organizations: Boeing, Transportation, Street Journal, Department of Justice, Alaska Airlines, National Transportation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration, DOJ, NTSB, Justice Department, Alaska, FAA, Max Locations: midlfight, Buttigieg's, Seattle, Arlington , Virginia

☆ Joe Biden is looking for ways to get his message to break through. He’s hoping his Cabinet can play a key role.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | Camila Dechalus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Nevertheless, the Biden White House and legal team has taken pains to ensure compliance – an effort to highlight its commitment to ethics and draw a sharp contrast with Trump, who skirted the rule with abandon. And the Biden White House has issued “extensive guidance to and conducts trainings for agencies” on the Hatch Act and how to avoid potential missteps, the official said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention while on official travel in Jerusalem. “Voters of color can see themselves in leaders like Secretary Cardona, Secretary Fudge, and (EPA) Administrator (Michael) Regan. President Biden was intentional about assembling a Cabinet that reflects the diversity of America, and we continue to see how that diversity translates into real political strength,” he told CNN.

Persons: Washington CNN — Janet Yellen isn’t, Joe Biden’s, Biden, SSRS –, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Yellen, Robert Hur’s, Pete Buttigieg, Gina Raimondo, Jennifer Granholm, Miguel Cardona, they’ve, “, Biden’s, they’re, Jeff Zients, “ Biden, ” Caitlin Legacki, Granholm, Buttigieg, Raimondo, “ We’re, ” Buttigieg, That’s, Mike Pompeo, Biden White, – you’ve, ” Legacki, Julie Su, Isabel Casillas Guzman, Marcia Fudge –, –, Marjory Stoneman, Gevin Reynolds, Kamala Harris, Secretary Cardona, Fudge, Michael, Regan, Young, Tom Vilsack Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Economic, of Chicago, Midwest, Treasury, White, Transportation, Democratic, GOP, Cabinet, Biden White, Republican National Convention, Coalition, SSRS, Biden, Trump, Labor, Democrats, Small, Urban, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Palmetto State’s, Education, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, “ Locations: Yellen, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee , Louisiana , California, Delaware, New York, Jerusalem, American, Pacific Islander, Nevada, South Carolina, Iowa

☆ Analyst: Spirit Airlines could be forced out of business after JetBlue deal is blocked
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Spirit Airlines could end up in bankruptcy and be forced out of business because of a federal court decision to block a proposed sale to JetBlue Airways, according to a note from an airline analyst. “We believe Spirit will first look for an alternative buyer, but another airline may get the same pushback [from antitrust regulators. Its fares prompted major airlines to offer a certain number of no-frills “basic economy” seats on their planes. It also prompted concerns that its purchase by JetBlue would lead to higher fares across the industry — concerns which resulted in the Justice Department’s antitrust case that blocked the deal. “While we are disappointed with this [court decision] outcome, we are confident in our strengths and strategy,” said a company statement sent to CNN.

Persons: Helane Becker, Cowen, “, ”, Becker, General Merrick Garland, Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Fitch, it’s, William Young Organizations: New, New York CNN — Spirit, JetBlue Airways, JetBlue, Transportation, Refinitiv, JPMorgan Chase, CNN, Airbus, Boeing, lessors, Federal, Spirit Locations: New York, Spirit’s, U.S

☆ GOP shutdown politics rock Washington as Trump and Biden head for a swing-state showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and his Oval Office predecessor, Donald Trump, are about to wage the most direct showdown yet of their possible rematch as far-right House Republicans drive the nation to the brink of a government shutdown. Trump, seeking to sow dysfunction on Biden’s watch and advance his political goals as the GOP front-runner for 2024, is goading his loyalists to shut Washington down. Michigan – which Trump won in 2016 but Biden pulled back into the Democratic column in 2020 – will again be a vital general election state. With the political heat over a potential shutdown rising, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg toured Sunday political talk shows to pressure Republicans. He wrote on his Truth Social network that the shutdown was the “last chance to defund these political prosecutions against me and other Patriots.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, Biden, ”, –, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Ronald Reagan, Hunter Biden’s, New Jersey Sen, Robert Menendez, illegalities, Trump’s, McCarthy, Tim Burchett, Dana Bash, ” McCarthy, he’d, midterms, Pete Buttigieg, “, ” Buttigieg Organizations: CNN, Office, House Republicans, Democratic, White, GOP, United Auto Workers, Trump, Biden, Republican, Former South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, Ronald Reagan Presidential, New, Senate Foreign Relations, Trump Republicans, California Republican, Russia, Tennessee, Union, Transportation, Patriots, Republicans Locations: Washington, Michigan, Wolverine, Wisconsin, Florida, California, New Jersey, “ State

☆ Sec. Buttigieg looking for reductions in unruly passengers, close calls after busiest air travel summer on record
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —As an increasing number of passengers are acting out on crowded aircraft this summer, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has an admonition for passengers. “We expect everybody to respect flight crews and their fellow passengers.”Incidents ticked up over the summer months, from 586 last summer to 747 this year, according to FAA records. He made the comments as the Transportation Security Administration said the summer was the busiest at airports nationwide in the agency’s two-decade history. Buttigieg said airlines are doing a better job than last summer at getting passengers to their destinations. Sometimes we’ve seen an issue with ground crews.”“We have extremely high standards for close calls,” he continued.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, ”, “, ” Buttigieg, Buttigieg Organizations: CNN, O’Hare, FAA, Justice Department, Transportation Security Administration Locations: Chicago

☆ Deadline for airline retrofits could impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Multiple US air carriers told CNN Thursday that they will be able to meet the deadline. It added that all of its widebody aircraft will have the upgraded equipment by the deadline. The Regional Airline Association, meanwhile, said that most of its members’ planes were retrofitted ahead of a deadline last fall, and that they have plans to retrofit the remaining planes. That delay followed an even earlier postponement negotiated by the wireless carriers and the aviation industry, which had raised broad concerns that 5G signals might affect air travel. The deadline comes after a week of heavy flight disruptions linked to weather that are beginning to subside, with the exception of United.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Buttigieg, CNN’s Gregory Wallace Organizations: New, New York CNN, Verizon, Transportation, Airlines for America, CNN, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta, Regional Airline Association Locations: New York, Delta

The company that owns the truck has been in contact with officials and is complying with state police, officials said. Buttigieg has said his agency is prepared to help local officials swiftly address the extensive disruption caused by the collapse. A view of the aftermath of the collapse of a part of I-95 highway in Philadelphia Sunday in this still image obtained from a social media video. Shortly before the collapse, Mark Fusetti was driving south on I-95 in Philadelphia and began filming when he saw plumes of dark smoke. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority also said it added extra capacity and service to other transportation routes and was evaluating all options to assist travelers as they work around the highway collapse.

Persons: Mike Carroll, Pete Buttigieg, Ben Halle, Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, “, Josh Shapiro, Shapiro, Joe Biden, “ Crews, Billy Kyle, Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, ” Homendy, underscoring, Mark Fusetti, ” Fusetti, CNN’s Jim Acosta, Derek Bowmer, ”, Ruth Acker, Danny Rodriguez, WPVI, Carroll Organizations: CNN —, National Transportation, State, Transportation, CNN, American Council of Engineering Companies, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, NTSB, Pennsylvania State Police, Sunday . Department Battalion, American Council of Engineering, WPVI, Southeastern, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Locations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wawa, Coast, detours, Woodhaven, Aramingo, New Jersey , Delaware, Maryland, Southeastern Pennsylvania

☆ Section of major I-95 highway in Philadelphia that collapsed after tanker truck caught fire underneath could take months to repair, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Celina Tebor Zoe Sottile | Celina Tebor | Zoe Sottile | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A section of northbound I-95 in Philadelphia that collapsed after a tanker truck caught fire underneath the highway Sunday morning could take months to repair, snarling regional commutes and cutting off a major East Coast artery, Pennsylvania officials said. The commercial tanker truck, which was carrying a petroleum-based product, is still trapped under the collapsed highway, Pennsylvania Gov. The destroyed portion of the highway is “likely the busiest interstate in the commonwealth,” seeing around 160,000 vehicles daily, according to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll. A side view shows the partial collapse of Interstate 95 after a fire underneath a Philadelphia overpass. City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management/ReutersWhile the collapse has not affected the city’s drinking water quality, according to a tweet from Philadelphia Water Department, the US Coast Guard is looking out for possible water pollution.

Persons: Josh Shapiro, ” Shapiro, Mike Carroll, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, “, ”, Derek Bowmer, Transportation Pete Buttigieg “, Leslie Richards, “ It’s, ” Buttigieg, Joe Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Shailen Bhatt Organizations: CNN, Authorities, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Philadelphia Mayor, SEPTA, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia Fire Department, Transportation, Philadelphia Office, Emergency Management, Reuters, Philadelphia Water Department, US Coast Guard, Philadelphia, Twitter, White, Federal Highway Administration, National Transportation Locations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, detours, Maine, Miami , Florida, City

Passengers stuck at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago greeted the latest air travel disruption with a collective shrug. And our nation’s economy depends on a best-in-class air travel system. "We call on federal policymakers to modernize our vital air travel infrastructure to ensure our systems are able to meet demand safely and efficiently," he said. "An FAA system outage is causing ground stops at AUS and other airports across the country," the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said in a tweet. Air France said all of its U.S.-bound flights were operating as planned and were not affected by the FAA computer outage.

☆ Transportation Department will be looking into Southwest flight cancellations, Buttigieg says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Phil-Helsel-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Phil Helsel | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Southwest canceled more than 2,800 flights Monday — the day after Christmas — and around 2,600 Tuesday, according to tracking website FlightAware. Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said Southwest had not adequately prepared flights for the storm. Travelers wait in line near the Southwest Airlines ticketing counter at Nashville International Airport, in Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday. Buttigieg said Southwest has pledged to take care of impacted customers, and that the Transportation Department will be holding the airline accountable for that. Another 2,478 Southwest flights scheduled for Wednesday have also been cancelled, according to FlightAware.

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