Consumer Travel Alliance Director named to US DOT Advisory Committee on Consumer Protections

WASHINGTON, DC – Charlie Leocha, Director of the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA), has been appointed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as the public interest representative to the Department of Tr

WASHINGTON, DC – Charlie Leocha, Director of the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA), has been appointed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as the public interest representative to the Department of Transportation (DOT) Advisory Committee on Consumer Protections.

This committee was created as a result of the recently-passed Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill and will advise the Secretary on aviation consumer protection issues and customer service issues.

Leocha is one of four people appointed to the Advisory Committee on Consumer Protections. The other committee members are Lisa Madigan, Illinois Attorney General, who will chair the committee; David A. Berg, Senior Vice President at Airlines for America; and Deborah Ale-Flint, Director of Aviation at Oakland International Airport.

This marks the first time a consumer advocate has been named to such a high-level position at the Transportation Department. The appointment will provide an unprecedented opportunity for passengersโ€™ voices to be heard and to formulate new consumer protections and education programs collaboratively with the air transportation industry.

โ€œI am honored to serve on this committee,โ€ said Leocha, โ€œWith the close cooperation of consumer groups representing both leisure travelers and business travelers, a stronger and more unified voice will now be heard from airline passengers.โ€

The CTA strongly believes in serving the broad interests of the traveling public by finding a way to move consumer protections forward through education, coalition-building, and mutual consent.

โ€œWe look forward to working with the entire community of consumer groups in Washington to help improve the air travel experience,โ€ added Leocha.

The Advisory Committee on Consumer Protections is charged with evaluating existing aviation consumer protection programs and providing recommendations for the improvements, and offering recommendations for establishing additional aviation consumer protection programs, if needed.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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