FLIER'S BILL OF RIGHTS MOVES AHEAD IN CONGRESS

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

CHRISTIA GIBBONS, ARIZONA REPUBLIC - Legislation that would require the
nation's airlines to have emergency contingency plans when flights are
delayed for several hours or more is gaining headway in Washington. Late
last week, when the House Transportation Committee released its version
of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, it included
language promoting a passengers' bill of rights. . . If the legislation
moves forward, carriers would be required to have a backup plan for
providing food, water, restrooms, cabin ventilation and medical care
whenever an aircraft is stuck on the ground for three or more hours.
Additionally, passengers would be allowed to deplane at the four-hour
mark. . . The federal legislation was prompted by a well-publicized
incident late last year in which hundreds of American Airlines
passengers were stranded at Austin International Airport after their
flight was diverted because of bad weather in north Texas. The
passengers, who were stuck on the tarmac for up to eight hours, banded
together to form the Coalition for Airline Passengers Bill of Rights.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/a
rticles/0705biz-flyrights0705.html


||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||