The members have been chosen for the Aviation Consumer Protection Committee, which will advise U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on measures to protect the rights of air travelers.
LaHood appointed to the committee Chairwoman Lisa Madigan, Illinois attorney general; David A. Berg, senior vice president at Airlines for America; Deborah Ale-Flint, director of aviation at Oakland International (OAK); and Charles Leocha, director of the Consumer Travel Alliance.
“We are committed to protecting and strengthening the rights of consumers when they fly,” says LaHood in a news release. “The members of this committee will help us build on the administration’s already strong record of protecting air travelers.”
All of the members have experience advocating for consumers and working for additional consumer protections. Madigan’s Consumer Protection Division is nationally known for aggressively advocating for consumer safeguards. Berg is responsible for A4A’s legal affairs and has been involved in aviation issues such as passengers with disabilities and airport landing fees. Ale-Flint is responsible for OAK’s operation, management and development. Leocha formed the CTA in 2009, and had advocated for travelers by meeting government officials, testifying before Congress and developing travel information and resources.
The committee was formed as a result of the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, signed by President Obama on Feb. 14. The law requires the secretary of transportation to appoint to the committee four members with one representative each of air carriers, airport operators, state or local governments and non-profit public interest groups with expertise in consumer protection.
The committee, which will terminal Sept. 30, 2015, will evaluate current aviation consumer protections programs and provide recommendations to LaHood for improving them, as well as recommend any additional consumer protections that may be needed.
The time and place of the first meeting and all subsequent meetings, which will be open to the public, will be published in the “Federal Register.”
