Hilgers appointed chair of federal aviation consumer panel

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has been appointed chair of the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, a federal panel tasked with advising the U.S. Department of Transportation on aviation consumer protection matters.

Hilgers, Nebraska's 33rd Attorney General, will serve as the committee's chair for a two-year term and will represent state and local governments on the panel. The appointment comes as Congress recently strengthened its focus on passenger protections in the airline industry.

The committee evaluates existing aviation consumer protection programs and provides recommendations to the Transportation Secretary for improving and establishing additional protections for air travelers. Its membership includes representatives from air carriers, airport operators, state and local governments and nonprofit public-interest organizations.

The committee's statutory authorization was extended through September 2028 under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, landmark legislation that strengthened airline consumer protections. The law requires airlines to provide full ticket refunds for cancelled or significantly delayed flights within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 days for other payment methods, and mandates that airlines establish reimbursement policies for meals, lodging and other costs incurred during delays or cancellations.

Hilgers, elected in 2022, previously served six years in the Nebraska Legislature representing Lincoln and Lancaster County, including two years as Speaker. Before his election as Attorney General, he was a successful litigation attorney and entrepreneur who founded his own law firm.

As chair, Hilgers will oversee the committee's efforts to assess whether additional policies and regulations are necessary to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive or anticompetitive airline practices.