Transportation Department,
The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is amending its regulations governing how air carriers report the causes of flight cancellations and delays. This action implements Section 511(b) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which mandates that ten specific types of events be excluded from the "Air Carrier" causal reporting code. That code is reserved for circumstances that are within the carrier's control. This final rule creates a new reporting category to capture these ten specific events, ensuring that the data reported to the Department and shared with the traveling public accurately reflects the statutory distinction between carrier-controllable events and the specific exclusions identified by Congress.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary 14 CFR Part 234 [Docket No. DOT-OST-2026-1257] RIN 2105-AF29 AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Department of Transportation. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is amending its regulations governing how air carriers report the causes of flight cancellations and delays. This action implements Section 511(b) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which mandates that ten specific types of events be excluded from the “Air Carrier” causal reporting code. That code is reserved for circumstances that are within the carrier's control. This final rule creates a new reporting category to capture these ten specific events, ensuring that the data reported to the Department and shared with the traveling public accurately reflects the statutory distinction between carrier-controllable events and the specific exclusions identified by Congress. DATES: This final rule becomes effective on October 19, 2026. ( printed page 56589) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Nazareth, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202-934-2413, robert.nazareth@dot.gov (email). You may also contact Blane Workie, Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202-366…
Citation: 91 FR 56588
