Group's Executive Director On Martha's Vineyard During Obama Vacation

Rumors of a possible one-year emergency extension of FAA Reauthorization have led a non-profit consumer organization representing airline passengers to tell Congress that "however long you extend the FAA, you must limit the time passengers must spend on the tarmac."

"If the rumors are true, Congress may again kick the FAA can down the road, with yet another 'temporary, emergency' extension," said Kate Hanni, Executive Director of FlyersRights.org, in a news release. [ANN has been unable to confirm those rumors. Ed.] "The flying public will not forgive Congress if they again refuse to give relief to passengers stranded on tarmacs for hours at a time. Congress must include the bipartisan Boxer-Snowe Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights in any extension of the FAA's authority."

Rumors of a one-year "emergency" extension of the FAA's authorization have circulated around Washington for days, and last week were published in the trade publication "Aviation Daily."

"The commercial airlines' lobbyists are urging Congress to enact a so-called 'clean' extension of the FAA's authority," charged Hanni. "Our question is, 'clean for who?' 'Clean' for the lobbyists? Or 'clean' for passengers who are missing business appointments, births, deaths, weddings and funerals because they're sealed in a locked tube for hours at a time?"

"Time's up for the airlines. They've proven that they won't do the job unless Congress orders them to do so."

Hanni was on Martha's Vineyard Monday to promote a TV ad sponsored by FlyersRights.org airing on Martha's Vineyard cable throughout President Obama's vacation.

Kate Hanni File Photo

In the ad, Hanni says, "Mr. President ... I founded FlyersRights.org after my family and I were stranded on the tarmac in 2006 for 9 hours. Since then, it's happened to passengers on at least 3,000 flights. Imagine what it's like: no food, no water, toilets overflowing. As a Senator, you co-sponsored the Airline Passengers Bill of Rights. Please, sir, urge Congress to pass it. And sign it into law. Enough is enough."

FMI: www.flyersrights.org