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Regional
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New York first state to enact Passenger Bill of Rights
Beginning in January of 2008, by law, passengers on all flights departing from a New York airport must be provided ”food, water, fresh air, electricity and working restrooms on any flight that has left the gate and been on the tarmac for more than three hours.”
New York is the first state to enact such a law, aiming to “ensure airline passengers on severely delayed flights operating out of New York airports are provided with basic customer protections,” said Governor Eliot Spitzer.
Additionally, the New York state government created an Office of Airline Consumer Advocate within its Consumer Protection Board to govern carrier compliance and receive customer complaints. Airlines could be fined up to $1,000 USD per passenger if found to be in violation of the law and its aforementioned stipulations.
This legislation comes after severe weather-related delays at John F. Kennedy International Airport this year, including the much-publicized delayed and cancelled JetBlue flights. JetBlue has since enacted its own passenger bill of rights.
A national version of New York’s new law is progressing in committee in the U.S. House and Senate and provides similar protections for passengers.
Sources: Business Travel News, USA TODAY
Increased handicap accessibility coming to Chicago airports
Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International airports by early 2008 will offer kiosks that are wheelchair accessible, thanks to efforts by the Chicago Department of Aviation. Each unit will include a videophone for travelers who have difficulty with speaking or hearing.
Additionally, each kiosk will feature a multilingual touch-screen monitor and a plasma monitor, which provides information about handicap-accessible local attractions.
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune
