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Cries of the Flying Public Are Finally Heard

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

June 26, 2008

thomas

New Airline Passengers Rights Bill a victory

NAPA, Calif., June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new, separate Bill
providing significant relief for air passengers from extended on-board
delays was welcomed today by Kate Hanni, Founder-President of the Coalition
for Airline Passengers’ Rights, Health and Safety, formerly Coalition for
an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights (CAPBOR). The new Bill, H.R. 6355 was
introduced in Congress June 24 by Congressman James Oberstar, Chairman of
the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
and Congressman Jerry Costello, Chairman of the Aviation subcommittee.

“Despite frustrations inevitably encountered in the process, we are
delighted that passengers’ rights are clearly now on the agenda of the
House’s appropriate leadership,” Ms. Hanni said. “This Bill is intended to
move passengers’ rights legislation along on its own merit, since similar
passenger legislation was already passed by the House in the FAA
Reauthorization Act, which has become stalled in the Senate,” she added.

H.R. 6355, the “Air Service Improvement Act of 2008,” requires air
carriers and large and medium hub airports to file emergency contingency
plans with the Secretary of Transportation for her review and approval. The
Secretary may establish minimum standards for plans and require airlines to
modify the plans they submit. These plans must detail how the air carrier
will provide food, water, restroom facilities, ventilation, and necessary
medical treatment for passengers on board an aircraft that is on the ground
for an extended time period without terminal access. The Coalition had
fought hard for plans that required Transportation Department approval, as
opposed to the voluntary plans the DOT, favored.

Airlines that do not comply are subject to a $25,000 per day penalty.
The Bill will also establish an Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer
Protection. Full Text of the Bill at:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6355

The Coalition strongly urges everyone to contact his/her representative
in Congress and insist that they co-sponsor H.R. 6355 to end the repeated
incidents of passengers being held aboard airliners for prolonged periods
without adequate food, water, ventilation and sanitary facilities.

The Coalition has 23,100 people and claims successes as the New York
Passengers’ Bill of Rights, 2 DOT Rulemakings; one doubled compensation for
Denied Boarding and the correct reporting of Diversions and Cancellations
when “Stranded” on the Tarmac.

SOURCE Coalition for an Airline Passengers Bill of Rights

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