2024 Was the Year of Airline Regulations. In 2025, Many Could Be Scrapped.
Photo Caption: A busy terminal at Tampa International Airport. Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport
Skift Take
In 2024, we saw Washington clamp down on the airline industry with a slate of regulations, investigations and merger decisions. Now, as Donald Trump is set for a second term, we could see a loosening in regulations and more merger activity.
The Most Important Story: 2024
These are the headlines that drove the conversation in the travel industry in 2024 and will continue to dominate in the new year. See all storiesWhile much of the airline industry hopped on the premium boom in 2024, it was also a big year in Washington.
Clamping down on consumer practices in the airline industry was a cornerstone of the Biden administration — many regulations and crucial court decisions came in 2024. A federal judge struck down the merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines. Just months later, Spirit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
But the Department of Transportation approved the Alaska-Hawaiian merger, contingent on several consumer protections.
Senators held hearings with airline executives, expressing frustration with a lack of transparency on pricing “junk fees.”
Some of these initiatives won the praise of consumers but the consternation of airline executives. When asked about his thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said his stance on regulations could be “a breath of fresh air.”
And now
