The FAA has denied exemptions for their 3-Hour Rule at NYC area airports.  They replied:

“Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in the department’s announcement. “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 has the ability to 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.” *

And that is really what I both expected and hoped for as a reply.  I am certain the war of words is not over, however.

*  These quotes are from the Dallas Morning News Aviation Blog entry which can be read HERE.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax