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ASTAnews NEW APPOINTMENTS ASTA introduces new general counsel


PETER LOBASSO JOINED the staff of ASTA on September 1 as its new general counsel. Lobasso will serve as ASTA’s senior legal officer, providing legal advice and services to ASTA, its corporate affiliates, management, and staff on a range of legal matters affecting the association and the travel industry as a whole. Specifically, Lobasso will be responsible for


supporting Eben Peck, senior vice-president, government and industry affairs, and Mark Meader, vice president, industry affairs, in the development and execution of ASTA’s wide-ranging industry and government affairs agenda. He will also serve as policy advisor to Zane Kerby, ASTA’s president and


chief


executive officer, and will work closely with Jennifer Michels, vice-president of communications, serving as a spokesperson to media members on key industry issues and other matters of interest.


DOT DELAYS DOT delays final airline passenger protection rules


THE US DEPARTMENT of Transport is to delay the publication of its final Enhancing Passenger Protections III rules to April 28, 2016. It was due to publish this on December 1, 2015. Since mid- 2014, the DOT has been seeking comment on proposals to enhance protection for air travelers and to improve the air travel environment. As part of these rules, the DOT could also include new travel agency requirements, as well as change the way airlines present ancillary fee information in the indirect sales environment. Some of the proposals under consideration include: n Clarifying the DOT’s interpretation of the statutory definition of ‘ticket agent’ n Requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose basic ancillary fees n Requiring enhanced reporting by mainline carriers for their domestic code-share partner operations n Requiring large travel agencies to adopt minimum customer service standards n Codifying the statutory requirement that


carriers and ticket agents disclose any code-share arrangements on their websites n Prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices such as undisclosed biasing and post-purchase price increases. Te initial notice of proposed rulemaking was


issued by the DOT in May 2014, beginning a public review process that has collected hundreds of comments. ASTA’s comments regarding the proposed DOT rulemaking were submitted in September 2014 and can be found on asta.org/files. An ASTA press release on the topic can also be found here. Options for the DOT include proceeding with


its proposals, modifying them or withdrawing the proposed rules altogether. An earlier plan called for the DOT to submit its final proposals to the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on August 18, 2015. Te DOT indicates it will not do this until January 22, 2016, with final publication occurring on April 29, 2016.


fall 2015 | ASTAnetwork | 11 Lobasso brings to ASTA over 15 years of


experience in corporate law and a wealth of knowledge in areas such as contracts, employment and labor law, and intellectual property. Barred in New York, Virginia, and Washington,


D.C., Lobasso joins ASTA from Berenson LLP, a specialty law firm in Great Falls Virginia, where he was the managing attorney and counsel to major corporations nationwide. Lobasso sees a number of important


Lobasso brings over a wealth of knowledge in areas such as contracts, employment and labor law, and intellectual property


legal issues facing the travel industry at the present time. Chief among these are the Department of Labor’s proposed changes to its overtime and independent contractor regulations, which, if implemented, will impact a large number of ASTA’s members. Lobasso further notes a variety of ongoing legal challenges taking place at the state level regarding hotel occupancy taxes, rental car taxes and travel insurance regulation.


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