The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted to approve the ACPAC Modernization Act (H.R. 5663) this week in a move that was lauded by the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).
The approval marks a key victory for ASTA's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and a vital step toward adding ticket agent representation to the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC) at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
If enacted into law, the bill would add a ticket agent seat to the ACPAC, giving travel advisors an important voice and seat at the table when it comes to working with DOT. Airlines, airports and consumer groups each have a seat on the committee already.
The ACPAC Modernization Act now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives and introduction in the Senate.
"Travel advisors are both consumers and consumer advocates, and as such, deserve to be in the debates over policies that directly affect them and their clients," ASTA President and CEO Zane Kerby said in a statement. "The ACPAC Modernization Act will correct the imbalance and ensure that ticket agents have a voice at DOT."
"Given the critical role travel advisors play for both consumers and the broader marketplace, Congress should expand the ACPAC to include ticket agents and ensure that policymakers, regulators and travelers benefit from perspectives that are missing today," he added. "Recent DOT proposals on airline refunds and ancillary fee disclosures spotlight just how necessary the travel agency voice has become."
ASTA points out that travel advisors are the largest single sellers of airline tickets, issuing more than 781,000 per day, and accounting for $99.2 billion in sales last year.
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