WASHINGTON (TVR) – A bill introduced this month in Congress would cap how much airlines could charge for airfare during disasters like hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria.

Consumers criticized some U.S. airlines, accusing them of price gouging as millions of residents sought to evacuate Texas and Florida as the hurricanes approached.

The bill, H.R. 3473, introduced by Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), is called the AirFARE Act—an acronym that stands for “Airline Freeze of Astronomical Increases in Rates Act.”

“What is unacceptable is seeing ticket prices increase six-fold when residents are trying to flee the path of a hurricane,” Rep. Velasquez said in a release.

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Bill Would Cap Fares in Disasters

Rep. Velasquez’s legislation would ban airlines from raising the price of a fare more than 30% once a state or other U.S. territory makes a disaster or emergency declaration, making price hikes during catastrophes “an unfair or deceptive practice.”

The bill would also grant sweeping authority to the U.S. Department of Transportation to unilaterally reduce prices even further below the cap during disasters.

Velasquez cited reports on social media of fares jumping nearly six-fold as Florida residents tried to flee the southern part of the state as category four Irma approached.

In the statement announcing the bill, Velasquez’s office listed one fare skyrocketing from $547 to more than $3,200 for a flight; a Miami to Indianapolis ticket suddenly costing $1,738; and a flight between Miami and Los Angeles jumping to $2,370.

“Whether these drastic price increases are examples of intentional price gouging or an unwillingness to examine how the airlines’ computer systems function, doesn’t really matter,” Velasquez said.

“If tickets get too unaffordable, people who might otherwise have fled a disaster may stay, creating a danger to human life.  This bill will require the airlines to take reasonable, responsible steps to check price increases.”

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Airlines Deny Gouging Accusations

The airlines have denied allegations of price gouging during the exodus before hurricanes Harvey and Irma made landfall.

Several senators have asked the Transportation Department to investigate, The Washington Post reported, and as Maria approached U.S. territories, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) wrote directly to airlines asking them to lower prices.

Within hours of coming under withering criticism on social media as Irma neared, several U.S.-based carriers instituted voluntary price caps.

For example, JetBlue announced it would not charge more than $99 one way for a non-stop economy class ticket leaving Miami and $159 for flights with more than one segment.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also said they would charge limit economy fares to $99 leaving communities under a hurricane warning and people returning to those areas covered by its weather waivers until Sept. 17.

Delta, based in Atlanta and whose hub operations were seriously impacted by Irma, also waived baggage fees and pet-in-cabin fees for evacuees and those returning home.

The airlines repeated the gesture as Maria threatened, capping airfare, waiving fees, and even adding capacity for people wishing to evacuate areas in the hurricane’s path.

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