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DOT Next Week Plans To Unveil New Airline Passenger Rules
May 26, 2010

The U.S. Transportation Department plans to propose new rules next week that will broaden and extend the airline passenger protections it enacted last month.

In prepared remarks delivered during DOT's inaugural Future Of Aviation Committee meeting today, DOT secretary Ray LaHood hinted at some of proposals. "On our agenda for the next meeting will be a proposed rule—which we plan to announce next week—that provides additional consumer protections for air travelers, building on the airline consumer rule that took effect last month," according to LaHood's prepared remarks.

LaHood said next week's rule proposal will "strengthen consumer protections in a number of areas—expanding consumer rights in the event of over-sales, flight cancellations and long delays and ensuring that passengers have accurate and adequate information to make informed decisions when selecting flights."

LaHood also said the proposal would address "data reporting and contingency plans in the event of tarmac delays" and "broaden available consumer information."

Announced in December 2009, DOT last month enacted a number of new passenger protections, including a rule that requires domestic carriers to let passengers deplane any aircraft held on the taxiway for three hours or face hefty federal fines.

A DOT spokesperson would not comment further on the new passenger protection proposals.

Source :- http://www.btnonline.com