Travelers may be interested to know that New York became the first state to ratify legislation created to ensure airline passengers on severely delayed flights are provided with basic customer protections.

Effective January 1, 2008, the legislation stipulates that all airlines operating out of New York airports are required to provide passengers with food, water, fresh air, power, and working restrooms on any flight that has left the gate and been on the tarmac for more than three hours. New York State will also establish the Office of the Airline Consumer Advocate within the Consumer Protection Board to oversee compliance with the airline passenger bill of rights.

Governor Eliot Spitzer supported the bill and his office released the following statement: 

August 2, 2007

GOVERNOR SPITZER SIGNS AIRLINE PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS

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Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that he has signed legislation that will ensure airline passengers on severely delayed flights operating out of New York airports are provided with basic customer protections. This legislation was proposed in response to several incidents of severe airline delays due to inclement weather at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers waited for hours with no food or water, overflowing toilets and a lack of ventilation.

“As a major international travel hub, it is our duty to take the lead in adopting measures that will ease air travel for passengers,” said Governor Spitzer. “This law establishes much needed consumer protections that will help guarantee greater passenger safety and comfort when severe delays impact their travels from New York airports.”

Assemblyman Michael Gianaris said: “I would like to thank Governor Spitzer for his support in making New York the first state to stand up for passengers at the most delayed airports in the country. This law will be the first of its kind to establish much needed guidelines of respect for New York’s airline consumers.”

Senator Charles Fuschillo said: “New York is home to some of the world’s busiest airports, and in adopting this new law, we have taken the lead in protecting the rights of passengers. This first-in-the-nation law will ensure that stranded passengers are treated with respect by the airlines that serve our airports and are not held hostage on delayed flights without basic amenities.”

The legislation stipulates that all airlines operating out of New York airports are required to provide passengers with food, water, fresh air, power, and working restrooms on any flight that has left the gate and been on the tarmac for more than three hours.

In addition to providing passengers with basic services, this legislation will also establish consumer protection guidelines, which will:

• Create a consumer bill of rights for airline passengers;
• Establish the Office of the Airline Consumer Advocate within the Consumer Protection Board to oversee compliance with the airline passenger bill of rights;
• Mandate that all air carriers provide consumers with notice of complaint contact information to be posted at all service desks and other appropriate areas;
• Provide the public with a New York State-based consumer advocate and contact person who can help to coordinate with the appropriate airline industry officials, federal agencies and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the event an incident occurs.