Congress To Give Airlines "War Insurance," But Passengers Left On Tarmac -- Indefinitely

With Congress about to pass an emergency extension of legislation re-authorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, the airlines appear poised to receive $500 million in "war insurance" guarantees paid by tax dollars, but the legislation fails to contain an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights that would give relief to flyers who are now stuck inside the aircraft indefinitely while planes' departures are delayed.

"The airlines' lobbyists and campaign donations seem to have secured them a seat in First Class, while the passengers are stuck back in coach -- for eight or nine hours at a time," said Kate Hanni, President of the Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights.

"The airlines spent $16 million this year alone on lobbying. It's beginning to appear they got their money's worth."

"Today, the airlines can keep you stranded indefinitely on the tarmac in a sealed metal tube, and there's nothing you can do about it. We're only asking that after three hours plus one hour for pilots to determine if it's safe to deplane, they take you back to the terminal and let you get some fresh air, food, fresh water and a toilet that works.

"Maybe if more Members of Congress rode in coach with the rest of us instead of flying in First Class or on corporate jets, they'd be more compassionate. In the meantime, we'll make sure their constituents know how they're giving their airline donors big bucks while passengers get bumped."

Hanni, a private citizen who took on the airlines after she was forced to sit for 9 hours waiting for a flight to take off, says that the Coalition will do "everything in our power" to apply citizen pressure to the legislators in the days remaining before both Houses take up legislation extending the FAA's re-authorization. The FAA's authorization expires on September 30 and Congressional leaders have not said when the re-authorization legislation will be voted upon.

The Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights is currently the largest non-profit airline passengers' rights organization in the world with 24,000 members.

FMI: www.flyersrights.com, www.flyersrights.org, www.opensecrets.org