Boxer praise DOT action on passenger protection

Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, on Monday praised Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement of a new rule to protect airline passengers rights that include much of their legislation, the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights.

Specifically, the Department of Transportation's rule limiting tarmac delays includes three central components of the Boxer-Snowe Airline Passenger Bill of Rights:

-         Airlines must give passengers the option to deplane after they have been stuck on the tarmac for three hours. 
-         Airlines must provide food, water, access to medical treatment and working restrooms while passengers are trapped on the tarmac. 
-         Airlines must provide passengers with delay information on their websites as well as information on how to make formal complaints.
 
"This is a victory for passengers who have been mistreated, and I thank Secretary LaHood for acting to protect passengers rights," Boxer said.

"This shows that the Department of Transportation understands that no passenger should ever be held captive for hours on an airplane without food, water or sufficient restrooms.

"As good as this rule is, it doesn't give passengers permanent protection because it could be overturned by a future administration.

"That is why we will keep working to see that the Boxer-Snowe Airline Passenger Bill of Rights becomes law."