Mike Thompson United States Congressman - First District of California
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Bill to Give Airline Passengers Legal Rights Re-Introduced

January 22, 2009

WASHINGTON—Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) re-introduced legislation to grant airline passengers basic rights by ensuring they have access to food, water, and other basic necessities, and preventing passengers from being held indefinitely on planes.  Last year, Rep. Thompson was the first member of Congress to introduce passenger rights legislation.  

“We need to ensure that when passengers set foot on a plane, they will be treated fairly and humanely,” said Congressman Thompson.  “This bill will also help airlines develop standards so that they can have a plan in place to deal with extended tarmac delays.  Obviously preventing extended delays by improving airport infrastructure and upgrading the air traffic control system needs to happen.  But no matter what, we need to make sure that passengers will not be held in uncomfortable and unsafe conditions.”

Congressman Thompson’s bill, the companion to legislation introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), would require:

•    Airlines to provide passengers with food, potable water, comfortable cabin temperature and ventilation, and adequate restrooms while a plane is delayed on the ground.

•    Passengers be offered the option to safely deplane after sitting on the ground for three hours.  This option would be provided every three hours, should the plane continue to sit on the ground.

•    The creation of a consumer complaint hotline run by the Department of Transportation (DOT) so that passengers can alert the agency about delays.

•    DOT to review and approve contingency plans developed the airlines.  DOT would also be allowed to fine air carriers and airports that do not submit or comply with contingency plans.

Last Congress, the Passenger Bill of Rights introduced by Congressman Thompson was included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization passed by the House of Representatives.  Similar legislation was included in the Senate version of the FAA reauthorization, but was blocked on the Senate floor.