Sens. Snowe and Boxer IntroduceAirline Passenger Bill of Rights
AIRLINE
Bangor Daily News
Carlene Olsen
Boston University Washington News Service
2/27/07
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 – Spurred by a string of delays earlier this month that left angry passengers trapped on planes, Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) introduced legislation this month that would limit passenger waits onboard grounded airplanes.
Dubbed a “Passenger Bill of Rights,” the legislation would cap onboard waits to three hours, as well as require airlines to provide food and water.
“The aim of the Passenger Bill of is to ensure airline passengers are not held hostage on board commercial aircraft without access to basic needs,” Snowe said in an emailed statement.
While few domestic flights carry food supplies, said Rebecca Hupp, director of the Bangor International Airport, deliveries can be made to delayed planes with passengers.
The senators announced the bill after a number of airlines earlier this month experienced weather delays across the country, leaving some passengers on board grounded planes for more than 10 hours.
“There are no resources on the planes to help you,” said Kati Hanni, spokeswoman for the Coalition of the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights, a passengers’ advocacy group. “People were in a very awkward position for a very, very long time.”
Hanni, a California resident, said she had once remained onboard an American Airlines flight for about 13 hours , leading her to develop a petition for a bill of rights similar to the proposed legislation.
“Some people out there are diabetic and since many airlines have no snack service, when people are forced to check their bags [delays] can become a life or death situation,” Hanni said.
The Federal Aviation Administration does not have set regulations that govern how long airlines can keep passengers onboard, a department spokesman said.
According to a draft of the proposed legislation, pilots could override the three-hour limit if a flight is expected to depart within 30 minutes or if passenger safety is at risk.
Hupp said weather conditions could be a safety factor if passengers are allowed to leave a grounded plane after boarding.
“If stairs need to be brought to the aircraft in order for passengers to leave, icy or snowy conditions can be dangerous,” she said.
The senators plan to hold hearings, enabling members of Congress to speak with national air carriers about customer service challenges facing the airline industry, Snowe said in the statement.
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