New Data Proves Tarmac Delay rule a success!
NAPA, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kate Hanni, founder and Executive Director of FlyersRights.org, today urged the flying public to THANK Secretary Ray LaHood for his extraordinary leadership and his decision to pass the 3 hour tarmac delay rule, which initial data has proven to be a huge success at eliminating tarmac delays without the horrifying "unintended consequences" predicted by the airlines.
The nation's largest airlines reported only one flight in August with a tarmac delay of more than three hours, compared to 66 flights in August 2009, with no change in the rate of canceled flights, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
"FlyersRights.org took a bold stand for a 3 hour rule to prevent long on ground delays for nearly 3 years, and is proud to have advocated passionately for this rule and it's equally rewarding to witness its success for the flying public," said Kate Hanni. "We are proud to have fought and won the battle over the 3 Hour Rule, and we are also pleased that the predictions by airline insiders of mass cancellations and travel Armageddon are wholly inaccurate—the Rule has actually made the airlines more efficient!"
Data filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showed the only tarmac delay longer than three hours reported in August by the 18 airlines that file on-time performance with DOT involved a United Airlines flight departing the San Juan airport on Aug. 5 that was diverted. August was the fourth full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29. There were only eight total tarmac delays of more than three hours from May through August this year, compared to 529 during the same four-month period of 2009. BTS is a part of DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).
"Although we think a good marker will be 12 months of data before any judgments may be made regarding the success of the rule; the 6 month anniversary is October 29th and by all accounts the rule is a huge success so far."
FlyersRights.org is the largest non-profit airline passengers association in the world with 30,000 supporting members. www.flyersrights.org for more info or 1-877-359-3776 for our toll free hotline.
Contact: Kate Hanni (707)337-0328
SOURCE FlyersRights.org
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