Senate approves comprehensive FAA legislation with strong focus on safety and protecting consumers

The Senate passed a $105 billion aviation bill to improve air traffic controller staffing and prevent runway close-call incidents. The reauthorization bill for the FAA mandates that airlines can’t charge fees for families to sit together and requires longer cockpit recording devices. It adds more flights at Reagan National Airport and extends the acceptance period for vouchers and credits. Safety measures are heightened after near-miss incidents and an Alaska Airlines emergency. The bill also increases civil penalties for airline consumer violations and aims to address the shortage of air traffic controllers. Congress rejected certain consumer provisions but reauthorized the NTSB and promoted drone adoption.

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