Mon, Dec 05, 2011
Kate Hanni Says Airports Should Have Plans For Diversions
FlyersRights.org, a coalition that grew out of passenger
frustration during egregious tarmac stranding incidents five years
ago, has surveyed large and medium airline hub airports in the US
to find out how many are prepared to handle flights which are
diverted. So far, it looks as though travelers, especially on
international flights, remain at risk of long periods sitting on
the tarmac if weather diverts many flights at once.
FlyersRights founder Kate Hanni (pictured) notes that in 2008, a
Task Force representing the airlines, airports, the TSA, Customs
and Border Patrol, and FlyersRights.org was created for "developing
contingency plans for long on-ground delays." The TSA made a
recommendation for the airports to deplane international passengers
into a "sterile" room without having to go through normal customs
procedures. Passengers would be escorted to and from the secured
area by airline or airport employees and allowed to re-embark for
the continuation of their trips.
Hanni says that based on preliminary figures from the survey,
conducted under the Freedom of Information Act, at least half of
all airports have not implemented any contingency plans for the
management of passengers diverted to their facilities. She adds
that many still say it not their responsibility to have a plan, but
is solely the responsibility of the airlines. Hanni says airports
need to be given discretion and responsibility to take on this
issue.
"We are working with the Department of Transportation, the
Transportation Security Administration, industry stakeholders and
others to safely and efficiently close this loophole as soon as
possible," she adds.
FlyersRights says the full results of the airline and airport
readiness study will be released to the media by December 30.
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