WASHINGTON — A Republican-led Senate committee on Thursday backed an aviation bill that omits one of President Donald Trump’s goals — turning air traffic control operations over to a private company. The plan to reauthorize federal aviation programs through Sept. 30, 2021, has support from Republicans and Democrats, and passed the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee by voice vote. A House panel this week approved legislation that would split off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration — at odds with the Senate version. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the committee chairman, said he was “open-minded about the idea,” but appreciates that concerns exist, so the proposal would be considered more when the bill advances to the full Senate. The bill also would eliminate the caps on compensation passengers can receive if they are involuntarily bumped from a flight.

Source: National Post June 29, 2017 14:26 UTC