Monday, December 21, 2009

Ray LaHood Speaks on New 3 Hour Limits on Tarmac

This year through Oct., about 850 flights were stuck on the tarmac for more than 3 hours. Watch Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's remarks about the new law. Why did it take so long to get this kind of law? LaHood says elections make a difference. The fine: $27,500 per person on the plane.
“This is President Obama’s Passenger Bill of Rights,” said the secretary, Ray LaHood. Various proposals by that title have been introduced in Congress in recent years, but none has passed.

The rule announced Monday, which takes effect in 120 days, has been in the works since 2007, but was sped up by an incident on Aug. 7, when a cramped regional jet flown by ExpressJet, flying as Continental Express, sat on the tarmac at Rochester, Minn., overnight, with 47 passengers. NYT