New York Won't Leave Passenger's Glued to the Tarmac

Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights (CAPBOR)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 21st May 2007
CONTACT: Kate Hanni, Coalition, 707-337-0328

Coalition Pleased that New York Won’t Leave Passengers’ Rights Glued to the Tarmac!
** Kate Hanni, Founder of Coalition, to testify before New York Senate Committee on Consumer Protection about Passengers Rights Legislation **


At the airport with the worst record last year, New York's JFK, where 169 planes sat for more than three hours, The Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights will testify before the New York Senate Committee on Consumer Protection Thursday May 24th at 10:30 a.m., and will encourage the committee to work hard for an airline passengers’ bill of rights. The groups also pledged to work with committee chairman Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. to expand and improve the basic provisions of his bill, S5050, which has already passed the State Senate, as the bill moves toward final passage.

“Along with hundreds of thousands of other passengers left stranded for 8-10 hours or more in non-hygienic planes, I am very pleased that the committee has moved an airline passengers’ bill of rights closer to takeoff,” said Kate Hanni, spokeswoman for the Coalition for An Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights. “Now we need to help Senator Charles Fuschillo to make sure The New York Legislature finishes the job in a way that will guarantee those rights.” Hanni noted that the coalition would work to help Fuschillo get the bill through the Assembly and on toward final passage.

The legislation requires airlines to provide passengers with necessary services such as food, potable water and adequate restroom facilities while a plane is delayed on the ground. They will also be discussion about staffing levels, de-icing methods, amenities for passengers, and deplaning procedures in the event of delay, cancellation or emergency.

“It’s important that states step in to take action, even if Congress may also act to guarantee that airlines provide food, water, medicines and other basic human needs to passengers and allow folks to deplane after a period of time being trapped inside an aircraft.” said Kate Hanni, spokeswoman for the Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights.

“We are pleased that Senator Fuschillo has pledged to continue working to expand these basic rights as the legislation moves forward,” concluded Hanni. “We are also pleased that New York appears poised to lead the federal government into meaningful legislation that will protect the flying public.”

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The Coalition for an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights (http://www.flyersrights.org/) has 15,120 supporters. It was founded by Hanni and hundreds of other passengers who were stranded on several American Airlines planes for up to 9 hours at Austin International Airport, December 2006.