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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Airline industry fights passenger 'bill of rights' law in New York

By Marilyn Adams
USA Today

The U.S. airline industry's main trade group goes to federal court next week to try to block a New York state law that would punish airlines for stranding passengers on jets without adequate food, water or sanitation.

New York's airline passenger Bill of Rights is set to take effect Jan. 1.

The first-of-its-kind state law would require airlines to provide food, water, electricity and waste removal when a flight from a New York airport waits more than three hours to take off. Airlines could be fined up to $1,000 per passenger for violations.

New York lawmakers approved the measure after a February ice storm stranded thousands of passengers on jets for hours at John F. Kennedy airport.

Congress and the Bush administration have proposed new consumer protections but nothing as strong as the New York law.

The Air Transport Association, representing U.S. airlines, has asked a federal judge in Albany to stop the law from taking effect. The ATA says only federal authorities can regulate airline service. The first hearing is next Tuesday.

An ATA spokesman said long tarmac delays such as those during February's storm are rare and unavoidable and that airlines are working to improve onboard service when they occur.