Public charter carriers like Dallas-based JSX may need to alter their business model in the near future if U.S. aviation authorities agree to proposed rule changes.
In a few weeks, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will propose new guidelines dictating the security standards governing public charter companies like JSX and SkyWest Charter, sources purportedly told Bloomberg.
TSA has indicated that these new rule changes will address specific security complaints levied against public charter carriers by American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
In 2023, ALPA filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, claiming charter companies took advantage of regulatory loopholes that blurred the line between scheduled service and on-demand charters.
By doing so, the complaint alleges that charter companies can mimic scheduled service and thus undermine existing security measures and safety standards that help prevent aviation disasters.
However, JSX claims the proposed rule changes are only designed to stymie competition and regulate small boutique carriers out of the market.
“The truth is that two huge airlines — American and Southwest — and their labor union leaders — have been lobbying the FAA, TSA, and elected officials in Washington D.C. with misinformation and unsubstantiated safety claims in a brazen attempt to regulate JSX out of business,” said JSX.
“In fact, JSX has a flawless safety record and far exceeds applicable safety, security, and regulatory standards. By any measure, JSX has a better safety, security, and operating record than they do,” the carrier claimed.
Before the proposed rule changes can go into effect, JSX and other boutique carriers will be given a public comment period where they can detail why the new rules would harm the industry and prevent smaller carriers from competing on a level playing field.
The proposed rule changes will not be made public due to their containing sensitive security information, according to Bloomberg.
The Dallas Express reached out to JSX for comment about the forthcoming proposal but did not hear back by the time of publishing.
