Sen. Markey, Rep. Cohen Reintroduces Legislation to Stop Bloated Airline Fees and Expand Passenger Protections

Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 18, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, this week reintroduced the Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous (FAIR) Fees Act , legislation that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to set a rule preventing airlines from setting bloated fees that far exceed the costs incurred by the airlines. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) leads the legislation in the House of Representatives. “It’s outrageous that travelers have to pay a small fortune in fees for a carry-on bag or to sit with their children, when the true cost to the airlines is far less than what they charge in hidden fees,” said Senator Markey . “As airlines take their ridiculous fees to new heights, I’m proud to reintroduce the FAIR Fees Act , an important step to slash excessive airline fees, enact cost-saving protections, and put consumers first instead of airline CEO billionaires.” “Air travelers frequently tell me about unreasonable fees for schedule changes or baggage fees that appear out of line with the likely true cost to the airlines for providing these services. It’s well past time we have an objective assessment of these fees with the expectation that they will either be justified as reasonable or reduced or eliminated,” said Congressman Cohen . “The process of buying a plane ticket has become bloated with hidden fees at every turn,” said John Breyault, Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at National Consumers League . “Many of these charges are inflated beyond any tangible cost associated with providing the service and exist solely to pad carriers’ earnings. The FAIR Fees Act would significantly rein in this practice and protect consumers from incessant nickel and diming.” “We all know air travelers are subject to severe sticker shock when junk fees are added to base fares,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation & Travel at American Economic Liberties Project . “But there are also problems with many of the fees themselves, because some services don't incur costs to the airlines. Boarding earlier? Sitting in a window rather than a middle seat? Gaining access to overhead bins? None of this affects an airline's bottom line, but passengers can wind up paying hundreds of dollars more. I testified alongside airline CEOs who were unable to even guess the internal cost of passengers canceling flights, yet that cost for consumers can be $150. This legislation will ensure that--finally--airline fees are both reasonable and in proportion to the costs incurred.” The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ruben Gallego (D-N.M), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Senator Markey is a longtime advocate for aviation consumer rights . In December 2025, Senators Markey, Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act , legislation that would protect passengers by requiring airlines to provide cash compensation and free rebooking for passengers facing significant delays or cancellations caused by the airline. In October 2025, Senators Markey, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), led 14 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, urging the DOT to reconsider its decision to roll back consumer protections for airline passengers that built on the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act . ###