A new rule instituted by the Department of Transportation designed to prohibit airlines from subjecting passengers to lengthy waits on airport ramps takes effect tomorrow and will apply consistently across the entire U.S airline industry. The department refused to grant exemptions to JetBlue, Delta, Continental, American and US Airways, rejecting their arguments that new runway construction at JFK airport rendered their operations more susceptible to interruption. The new rule essentially establishes a three-hour limit for all domestic U.S. airlines. Airlines that break the rule face a fine of $27,500 for each passenger aboard the aircraft.
"Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This is an important consumer protection, and we believe it should take effect as planned." In denying the requests, the department concluded that airlines could minimize tarmac delays by rerouting or rescheduling flights at JFK to allow the airport's other three runways to absorb the extra traffic. The department also noted that it can take into account the impact of the runway closure and the harm to consumers when deciding whether to pursue enforcement action for failure to comply with the rule and the amount of a fine, if any, to seek as a result of non-compliance.
