NCL supports the Air Passenger Bill of Rights Act of 2011 – National Consumers League

February 15, 2011

Contact: NCL Communications, (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League today announced its support for the Air Passenger Bill of Rights Act of 2011, legislation that will provide some very basic rights and increased comfort, including food, water, comfortable cabin temperature, and access to restrooms, while a plane is delayed on the ground. The bill would also require that airlines afford passengers the option to deplane after sitting on the ground for three hours. The U.S. Department of Transportation is also directed in the bill to create a hotline for passenger complaints, as well as approving airline contingency plans, and fining carriers and airports that don’t comply.

“These protections are long overdue,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “We applaud Congressman Mike Thompson for his leadership in introducing this bill and Kate Hanni, director of Flyersrights.org, for her heroic advocacy for airline passenger rights. Kate turned a negative experience – being stranded on a plane for 9 hours on the tarmac with her family – into a constructive and pro-consumer movement for airline passenger rights.”

NCL urges the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to address these abuses on Wednesday, when the Committee begins mark-up of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.