ASTA’s General Counsel Peter Lobasso Appointed to DOT Subcommittee

The U.S. travel trade received some representation on a major Department of Transportation (DOT) subcommittee on Thursday when Peter Lobasso, the senior vice president and general counsel for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), was appointed by the DOT to serve as the ticket agent representative on the Anti-Discrimination Subcommittee of its Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee (ACPAC).

According to the DOT, the subcommittee is tasked with reviewing current “airlines’ policies, procedures, and practices to prevent discrimination against air travelers based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, ancestry, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation.”  

Lobasso joins other members including the senior director and legal counsel at Spirit Airlines Meisha Coulter, IATA’s head of legislative affairs Chad Heflin, the vice president of ground operations for Southwest Chris Johnson, and the vice president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for Delta Keyra Lynn Johnson.

“It’s an honor to be appointed to this subcommittee to represent the viewpoint and interests of travel agencies and other ticket agents,” Lobasso said.

“We intend to consult extensively with ASTA members throughout this process, relying on their expertise and experience to ensure the nondiscriminatory delivery of services to air travelers,” he added,