Machaca
21st Dec 2009, 18:47
AFP reports:
US orders airlines to limit wait on tarmac
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US authorities Monday ordered airlines to limit the time passengers may wait on runways for takeoff or departure to three hours in most cases, in response to a series of incidents and complaints.
The new rules for domestic US carriers also require that passengers get food and drinking water within two hours and medical attention, if necessary.
The Transportation Department said the new rule was adopted in response to a series of incidents in which passengers were stranded aboard aircraft for lengthy periods and also due to the high incidence of flight delays and other consumer problems.
In one recent case, the agency fined Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines a total of 175,000 dollars for their roles in a nearly six-hour ground delay at Rochester, Minnesota.
"Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.
The rule prohibits US airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers, except where safety or security is at risk or if ordered by air traffic control.
US carriers operating international flights, under the rule, must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers.
Airlines that schedule chronically delayed flights could face enforcement action by the Transportation Department for "unfair and deceptive practices," the agency said.
Carriers will also be required to display on their website flight delay information for each domestic flight they operate.
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US orders airlines to limit wait on tarmac
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US authorities Monday ordered airlines to limit the time passengers may wait on runways for takeoff or departure to three hours in most cases, in response to a series of incidents and complaints.
The new rules for domestic US carriers also require that passengers get food and drinking water within two hours and medical attention, if necessary.
The Transportation Department said the new rule was adopted in response to a series of incidents in which passengers were stranded aboard aircraft for lengthy periods and also due to the high incidence of flight delays and other consumer problems.
In one recent case, the agency fined Continental Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines a total of 175,000 dollars for their roles in a nearly six-hour ground delay at Rochester, Minnesota.
"Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.
The rule prohibits US airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers, except where safety or security is at risk or if ordered by air traffic control.
US carriers operating international flights, under the rule, must specify, in advance, their own time limits for deplaning passengers.
Airlines that schedule chronically delayed flights could face enforcement action by the Transportation Department for "unfair and deceptive practices," the agency said.
Carriers will also be required to display on their website flight delay information for each domestic flight they operate.
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