FAA Seeks to Toughen Safety Rules on Public Charter Carriers Like JSX
Skift Take
Key Points
- FAA seeks to implement stricter safety regulations on public charter airlines like JSX.
- Changes could impact JSX's appeal, which includes private terminals and less stringent pilot requirements.
- Major airlines and pilots' unions have lobbied for changes, while JSX argues their operations are within existing regulations.
Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is aiming to introduce stricter safety regulations for public charter airlines such as JSX, which often operate similarly to commercial airlines but under different safety rules. This move could affect JSX's appeal, which lies in its private jet-like experience and less stringent pilot requirements. Major airlines and pilots' unions have lobbied for these changes, arguing that JSX exploits a regulatory loophole. JSX has countered, stating their operations comply with existing regulations and rejecting claims of a loophole.
The Federal Aviation Administration is looking to implement more stringent safety requirements on public charter airlines such as JSX.
The federal agency said some public charter flights operate like commercial airlines, but are not subject to the same safety regulations, which is often not made clear to customers. If the changes are approved, both would operate under the same rules.
“Part of the safety mission of the FAA is identifying risk early on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on public charters as usage expands,” said FAA chief Mike Whitaker. “If a company is effectively operating as a scheduled airline, the FAA needs to determine whether those operations should follow the same stringent rules as scheduled airlines.”
A Problem for JSX
Such a move could be a blow for carriers like JSX since part of their appeal comes from offering customers a private jet-like experience. JSX, for example, operates out of small private terminals, so customers don’t go through a typical TSA security screening – JSX says passengers can arrive just 20 minutes before departure.
In addition, under current FAA regulations, JSX pilots don't need to meet the 1,500 flying hours requirement or the mandatory retirement age of 65.
“As the country’s largest public charter air carrier, JSX has modeled the way forward for safe, secure, and reliable regional operations,” a JSX spokesperson said in a statement to Skift. “We eagerly look forward to collaborating with our regulators to cement the importance of public charters and expand access to vital air connectivity in the future.”
Major Airlines Lobby Against JSX's Business Model
The FAA and TSA began reviewing whether public charter flights should be under similar regulations as commercial airlines last year. The FAA said it plans to release a final rule “expeditiously” after receiving 60,000 public comments on the matter.
American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and pilots’ unions had lobbied the federal government to consider stricter safety regulations on JSX, arguing that the carrier was taking advantage of a regulatory loophole.
JSX CEO Alex Wilcox said in a filing to the Department of Transportation in June 2023 pushed back on the argument that there was a loophole.
"There is no 'public charter loophole' as American and ALPA have alleged because JSX’s operations are expressly permitted under the regulations," he wrote.
"American’s and ALPA’s attempts to fabricate a regulatory controversy where none exists and place political pressure on [the] DOT to accomplish an end-run around the existing rules, all in order to put JSX out of business, should be unequivocally and resoundingly rejected," Wilcox said.
Photo Credit: The tails of JSX aircraft. JetSuite JetSuite
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