Court Strikes Down Airline Passenger Bill Of Rights
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Last Updated: April 24, 2008
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A federal appeals court struck down a New York state law requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers stuck in delayed planes saying the measure, though well-intentioned, stepped on federal authority.
The 2nd United States Circuit Court of Appeals said New York's law interferes with federal law governing price, routes or service of air carriers. The law was challenged by the Air Transport Association of America, which represents leading U.S. airlines.
The law was passed after thousands of passengers were
stranded aboard airplanes for up to 10 hours, at various airports and on a
variety of carrier's flights, last year.
Though the court agreed that the goals of the law were
good, and the situation that caused the Bill of Rights were
"deplorable," it held that only the federal government has the
authority to pass these types of regulations.
Proponents of the law may consider appealing the
ruling, attempting to enact a new law, or pressuring the federal government to
enact a similar federal law.
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