How California is helping the feds enforce protections for airline passengers [Video]

(The Hill) — The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Tuesday that it was partnering with 15 states to investigate airlines and protect passengers amid a boom in air travel.

The partnership will allow the Biden administration to prioritize cases of misconduct if state attorneys general find that airlines or ticket agents participate in “unfair or deceptive airline practices.”

If a state attorney general believes an airline violated a law, they could refer the cases to DOT for enforcement. The partnership will allow participating states’ attorneys generals to have access to a federal complaint database and ensure airlines comply with state-level investigations, the DOT said in a release.

“We take our mission to protect consumers seriously, and today’s launch of the Airline Passenger Protection Partnership is an important milestone in that effort,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

Buttigieg, speaking at the announcement event at the Denver International Airport, was joined by Colorado Attorney General Phil …