By Philip Newman
The U.S. Department of Transportation has rejected a request for a temporary exemption to a rule limiting to three hours the time airlines may keep passengers in a jetliner waiting to take off.
Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and American Airlines had asked for relief from the limits at John F. Kennedy International Airport during major construction on the airport’s 14,500-foot main runway, which is scheduled to be completed by early June.
Continental Airlines had asked for an exemption at LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports on the grounds that the effects of the jam-ups at JFK from the construction would be felt at other New York City airports. U.S. Airways had sought an exemption in Philadelphia.
The three-hour rule becomes effective April 29.
But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood turned down the request.
“Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely,” LaHood said. “This is an important consumer protection and we believe it should take effect as planned
Violation of the rule could result in fines of as much as $27,500 per passenger aboard jetliners involved.
The DOT “concluded that airlines could minimize tarmac delays by rerouting or rescheduling flights at JFK to allow the airport’s other three runways to absorb the extra traffic.”
The DOT said it might allow exceptions for reasons of security or safety or if the control tower personnel believe allowing a jet to return to a departure gate would cause a major disruption in operations.
The rule specifies that airlines holding passengers on board while waiting to depart must provide working toilets and, after two hours, food and water.
State Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) praised the decision.
“I am glad the Obama administration will not allow the airline industry to weasel its way out of its responsibilities to passengers,” Gianaris said. “Now we can be sure that passengers will be treated like human beings and not like cargo.”
Gianaris was the prime sponsor of a 2007 New York state law establishing the nation’s first Airline Passengers Bill of Rights.
Kate Hanni, president of the airline passenger activist agency FlyersRights, said “we applaud Secretary LaHood and the DOT for standing up for passengers by making sure the airlines do not succeed in delaying or skirting the most important consumer protection rule in the history of air travel.”
Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at timesledgernews@cnglocal.com or phone at 718-260-4536.
