Appeals Court Overturns N.Y. Airline Passenger Law

[Teh Don Ditty]

NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court has rejected the first law in the nation requiring airlines to provide food, water, clean toilets and fresh air to passengers trapped in a plane delayed on the ground.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that New York's new state law interferes with federal law governing the price, route or service of an air carrier.

The appeals court said the new law was laudable and the circumstances that brought them about were deplorable but only the federal government has the authority to enact such a law.

The law was challenged before the appeals court by the Air Transport Association of America, the industry trade group representing leading U.S. airlines.

Really? Can't provide some basic necessities to people that are stuck on the tarmac for hours on end? Unbelievable.

[TEG]

Hopefully this will just force the Federal Government to enact such a law. The ruling was correct, the state overstepped its bounds.

TEG

[Teh Don Ditty]

Hopefully this will just force the Federal Government to enact such a law. The ruling was correct, the state overstepped its bounds.

TEG

I'm not arguing what the state did, I'm just arguing the fact that those basic necessities should be made available for the passengers.

[CalBoy]

I'm not arguing what the state did, I'm just arguing the fact that those basic necessities should be made available for the passengers.

They should be, but NY didn't have the authority to pass the law, so that's why it was overturned.

However, there are nearly 20 other states that are considering similar laws, so the FAA and Congress will likely get together to make sure it becomes a national policy.

[SMM]

Our best weapon to gain these basic rights is through consumer action. Draft an airlines passenger bill of rights and economically punish those who do not support it. We have strength in our numbers, and the ability to communicate in our forums.