Commerce Committee Includes Bill Of Rights In FAA Funding

The Senate vote Wednesday afternoon on its version of the FAA Reauthorization bill included some good news for the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights and US PIRG. Both groups commended the US Senate Commerce Committee for including a bi-partisan airline passengers’ bill of rights in the bill approved Wednesday.

The groups also pledged to work with the bill's sponsors, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), to expand and improve the basic provision as the bill moves toward final passage.

"Along with thousands of other passengers left stranded for 8-10 hours or more in non-hygienic planes, I am very pleased that the committee has moved an airline passengers’ bill of rights closer to takeoff," said Kate Hanni, spokeswoman for the Coalition for An Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights. "Now we need to help our champions Senators Boxer and Snowe to make sure Congress finishes the job in a way that will guarantee those rights."

PBOR tells ANN the FAA Reauthorization bill includes a provision providing that passengers trapped on a runway have the basic right to deplane within three hours, unless the airline has filed with the FAA its own alternate plan for treatment of passengers in such situations. The legislation also requires airlines to provide passengers with necessary services such as food, potable water and adequate restroom facilities while a plane is delayed on the ground.

"Although we have serious concerns about the potential consequences of the current language of the bill’s alternate plan provision, we have been assured by Senator Boxer that she and Senator Snowe will continue to work to ensure that the final bill protects the current common law rights of the flying public and sets meaningful minimum standards for these airline plans that will protect the flying public," added Hanni.

FMI: www.flyersrights.org, www.uspirg.org