“The new rule adopted by the Transportation Department sets fines of as much as $27,500 per passenger when airlines leave fliers stuck on a plane on the ground for more than three hours. Based on a delayed plane carrying 120 passengers, the fine could be as much as $3.3 million. The rule would apply to planes with more than 30 seats.”
OH, the unintended consequences…a year later a massive winter storm blankets the east coast in snow, closing major airports. Yet as the airports slowly clear the runways and terminal ramp area, what are the airlines doing…why, cancelling flights. Rather than hoping for the best, perhaps a slim window of opportunity to get some flights out, the major airlines, fearing Obama retribution(in the form of fines) are cancelling flights, a sort of pre-emptive action.
“As many as 1.2 million airline customers may have been affected by almost 8,200 flight cancellations as the storm that hit three days ago closed major airports. Passengers were forced to try to make new plans, sometimes without being able to reach airlines by phone or online for help.”
Hmmm 1.2 million passengers times $27,500 fine per passenger, why that’s $33 BILLION dollars…what airline could stay in business with a hit like that?
This is typical of government, they push these things through in haste when they need to sit down and think about the details. Of course a natural disaster is outside the control of the airlines therefore such things as hurricanes, and blizzards should have been included in an exception.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it would be better to insure all have fresh air, some time to stretch their legs, food and drink. What good is all that money when what you need is comfort? We don't need for the airlines to go out of business.
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