Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, expressed strong criticism towards airline executives during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, calling their services a “disaster” for American travelers. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held the meeting to address rising fees that passengers have been facing from major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United, Spirit, and Frontier.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, the committee’s chairman, had announced the hearing after the release of a report detailing how airlines have increasingly relied on additional fees, often referred to as “junk fees,” to increase their profits. According to Blumenthal, this trend has led to higher costs for consumers.
Hawley did not hold back his frustration. He questioned the executive representatives about the poor flying experience many people have encountered. “I mean, you guys do appreciate that flying on your airlines is a disaster, don’t you?” he asked. He shared his concerns as a parent, saying that no one enjoys flying, especially with families.
Reflecting on a personal experience during the pandemic, Hawley recalled a troubling incident where a flight attendant threatened to ban his wife from flying over their young son’s mask slipping below his nose. “You charge people fees that they know nothing about. You harass them to death,” Hawley stated, pointing specifically to American Airlines.
Hawley criticized the overall attitude of the airline executives, accusing them of being indifferent to customers’ suffering. He emphasized the need for change, insisting that both sides of the political aisle share this frustration towards airlines.
During the hearing, Blumenthal echoed Hawley’s sentiments, stating that airlines seem to view their customers merely as sources for revenue, ready to extract every possible dollar from them. After the session, he confirmed that the anger directed at airlines was felt bipartisanly, highlighting a common concern among lawmakers about airline practices.
