Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act

This bill would make the U.S. Department of Transportation require certain airlines to create and regularly update a plan to keep flights running smoothly and limit disruptions for passengers. The plan must cover how airlines prepare for severe weather and other foreseeable problems, how they staff during disruptions, and how their crew‑scheduling and other tech systems will keep working. It must also address known cybersecurity risks that could lead to delays or cancellations. The government must protect any trade secrets in these plans. An independent audit will start within three years to see if the plans work, followed by a public report one year after the audit ends. The department can review the plans and offer guidance, but this bill does not give it new powers beyond requiring the plans.

Key points

• Who is affected: Certain airlines defined by federal rules, the Department of Transportation, and air travelers.
• What changes: Airlines must prepare, update, and explain plans for handling storms, staffing, tech outages, and cybersecurity to reduce delays and cancellations; trade secrets are protected; the plans will be audited for effectiveness.
• When: The requirement begins within one year of the bill becoming law; an audit starts within three years, with a report one year after the audit is completed.