A court in the United States has ruled that Airlines for America (A4A), a trade group representing major US airlines, can pursue the return of fees and payments collected by the City of San Francisco under its controversial Healthy Airport Ordinance (HAO) at San Francisco International Airport.
According to the court order viewed by ch-aviation, the US District Court for the Northern District of California rejected the city's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing A4A to seek monetary relief on behalf of its member airlines, which include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, FedEx Express, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
The HAO, which applies to airlines operating at San Francisco, mandates that airlines either provide specific health benefits to certain employees or contribute to a city-managed healthcare fund.
A4A filed the lawsuit, arguing that the ordinance conflicts with federal law and violates constitutional contract clauses. The group also claims the HAO disrupts collective bargaining agreements between airlines and their employees.
The city argued that calculating the amount to be returned would require individual proof from each carrier. However, the court ruled that the calculation was straightforward, as the city already possesses the necessary records.
