PBOR Joins Forces With Other Public Advocacy Groups
The Airline Passenger Bill of Rights (PBOR) made its way to the
US Senate this week, as two consumer organizations joined forces
with the Coalition for Airline Passenger Bill of Rights to support
the group's goal of guaranteeing passengers left for hours on
runways such basic rights as food, water and the right to
deplane.
The US Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) and the Aviation
Consumer Action Project (ACAP) announced their full support for The
Coalition for an "Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights" (PBOR).
"Airlines and the federal government have failed to treat
passengers fairly, and have failed to keep promises to do so," said
Hanni, Executive Director of PBOR and one of hundreds of passengers
left stranded for nine hours in an American Airlines aircraft in
Austin without food, water and working toilet facilities. "We are
honored for the opportunity to address the Senate Commerce, Science
and Transportation Committee and detail the terrible ordeal that
led to the creation of this 15,000 member Coalition."
"One of the key missions of our organization is to ensure that the
American public is protected, and that includes airline passengers,
who shouldn't be treated like cattle" said Ed Mierzwinski, Consumer
Program Director for US PIRG. "We are happy to partner with PBOR
and its thousands of members nationwide to ensure the flying public
has a voice and legal rights when they board a commercial
airplane."
US PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups
(PIRGs), takes on powerful interests on behalf of the American
public, working to win concrete results for our health and our
well-being.
"The situation today with the airlines can best be described as
'déjà vu' as the problems that nearly brought the
national air transportation to its knees in 1999-2000 have now
re-emerged," said Paul Hudson, Executive Director Aviation Consumer
Action Project, which acts a public voice for air travelers on
issues of aviation safety, security and passenger rights. "This
requires prompt government and congressional action to prevent a
new crisis; we need Congress to enact an Airline Passengers' Bill
of Rights."
In her testimony before the Senate Transportation Committee,
Hanni discussed the horrific ordeal that she, her family and
thousands of passengers experienced on December 29, 2006 while stranded aboard several American Airlines
jets on the tarmac of Austin (TX) International
Airport.
Subsequently, a series of similar experiences occurred aboard
major carriers in a number of airports this winter affecting the
lives of hundreds of thousands of passengers.