USDOT approves airline passenger bill of rights, but will it help?

There’s a small victory for passengers who are forced to wait out delays on the plane. Airlines will be required to let passengers deplane if they are delayed for more than three hours.

In the first six months of this year, more than 600 planes were delayed on the tarmac for more than three hours with the passengers on board.

“Well I think it’s unfortunate that we had to even do that, but it’s there and someone has to protect the passengers. You can’t leave people sitting on a tarmac for 3-plus hours,” Jon Rosborough, ILM Director, said.

ILM already has a plan in place to keep passengers from being stuck on the plane. The new rule also requires airlines to provide food and water for passengers if a plane is delayed for two hours, and to keep bathrooms open.