What are your rights in case of flight cancellations or delays?

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will launch a website in the coming weeks detailing airlines’ policies on flight cancellations or delays. The aim is to keep passengers informed about their rights amid the air travel chaos that has arisen as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The page promises to contain “easy-to-read” information about each airline’s policy, as well as options for travelers when there is a cancellation or delay due to circumstances within the airline’s control. The new virtual page will be launched within the Department of Transportation’s website.

The DOT requests that “at a minimum” airlines provide meal vouchers for travelers who experience a delay of three hours or more, as well as accommodations for travelers who are forced to wait overnight at the airport due to disruptions caused by the carrier.

Airlines in the United States and around the world have been facing serious issues during the summer, generally attributed to a combination of worker shortages and air traffic control problems. In total, more than 100,000 flights have been canceled in the U.S. this year and nearly one million have been delayed. According to the DOT, U.S. airlines delayed about 24% of domestic flights and canceled about 3.2% of them in the first six months of the year.