Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Encouraged by Department of Transportation’s Call for Investigation into Stranded Passengers

For Immediate Release: Contact: Gil Meneses – 202-445.1570

Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights Encouraged by Department of Transportation’s Call for Investigation into Stranded Passengers Aboard jetBlue and American Airlines Flights

Transportation Secretary Peters’ Concerns are the Flying Public’s Concerns. We must Ensure that the U.S. Congress and the Federal Government Join Forces to Protect the Welfare and Well-being of Airline Passengers - Kate Hanni, Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights

Napa Valley, CA. (February 28, 2007) – The Coalition for Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights issued the following statement from its spokesperson, Kate Hanni, on news that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters will launch an investigation into recent episodes of stranded passengers on jetBlue and American Airlines flights.

“We are pleased that the federal government is launching an investigation into stranded passengers aboard jetBlue and American Airlines flights. Transportation Secretary Peters’ Concerns are the flying public’s concerns and we fully support her efforts to get to the bottom of this horrific ordeal that kept passengers trapped inside jetBlue and American Airlines planes for more than eight hours.

We must ensure that the U.S. Congress and the federal government work together to protect the welfare and well-being of airline passengers. For the last eight years and longer, the airlines have had the opportunity to make good on their promises to improve customer service and ensure basic rights for passengers, and over and over again, they have failed. Enough is enough. It is clear that the only thing that will ensure change is government action.

We applaud Senator Boxer, Senator Snowe and Congressman Thompson's efforts and look forward to working with them and Congressman Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation Committee and other members of Congress to ensure the introduction and passage of a comprehensive, enforceable Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights that would modernize and improve airline industry standards for customer service."

The coalition continues to gather momentum and support from members of Congress, national organizations and the flying public. Through several recent visits to Capitol Hill, members of the coalition have met with a number of Members of Congress and will continue to visit Washington, D.C. until an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights is enacted.

###