"Your chances of being stuck on a stuffy airliner for hours on a taxiway – like passengers on recent JetBlue flights – are slim, the government reported yesterday," the Associated Press reported on March 6.
That was the very same day USA Today emphasized that "588 flights sat for more than two hours on taxiways before taking off in January," and highlighted "calls for federal regulation to prevent recurrences."
Both articles mentioned proposed Passenger Bill of Rights, but only AP mentioned the push for regulation has come from Hill Democrats.
Both stories also quoted Air Transport Association spokesman David Castelveter, but with completely different emphasis.
USA Today: "The number of flights is increasing along with the number of lengthy delays."
AP: "As horrific a situation as that must be for travelers, it is still an extremely low number."
You can find the full Business & Media Institute story here.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I have never flown and hope I
March 6, 2007 - 19:25 ET byI have never flown and hope I never am forced to for a family emergency. If Jay Leno ever wishes to interview me, he will just have to come to the Rochester N.Y. area. :o) :: Waving to Jay ::
I started flying on Douglas D
March 6, 2007 - 19:41 ET by Del DolemonteI started flying on Douglas DC-3s, and in all those years I can count the total number of times I have been delayed on runways on one hand. Everyone in the aviation food chain does their best to keep traffic moving smoothly-the airlines lose money with such delays, and the airport people do as well.
But weather trumps all. It's not surprising that planes will be delayed on the ground in January, as it's not exactly one of the better months of the year weather-wise. Especially in Rochester, which is legendary among pilots for its nasty winter weather.
My advice? Only fly to and from Hawaii (Hawaiian Airlines has the best airline on-time record in the US)
Del Dolemonte, You have a ver
March 6, 2007 - 21:03 ET byDel Dolemonte,
You have a very good point there. And if ever I have a family emergency that forces me to fly, I hope it is in Hawaii. Thanks for the tip...
:o)
That was the very same day US
March 6, 2007 - 19:57 ET by BlondeThat was the very same day USA Today emphasized that "588 flights sat for more than two hours on taxiways before taking off in January," and highlighted "calls for federal regulation to prevent recurrences."
And I was on one of them. In Fort Lauderdale.
I hate commercial flying. Just because. Taking off my shoes in public really bugs me.
But it's about time there's a passenger Bill of Rights.
Like after two hours...let us off the freakin' plane to use the ladies room!
I must say, though, that JetBlue (whom I've not flown, BTW) handled the whole sordid affair pretty well. I'd rather see the airlines handle this sorry state of affairs for themselves...but they won't.
I don't know if another law
March 7, 2007 - 05:04 ET by sarcasmoI don't know if another law is needed, but you'd think letting people off an airplane -- even considering the security-hassle of getting them back on -- wouldn't be that hard. Besides, airline or not, at some point keeping a crowd that doesn't want to be there inside a germ-filled giant metal tube becomes a mass-kidnapping, or something like it. I only wish I could afford private jets like my corporate & environmental superiors...
JMR
Great illustration
March 6, 2007 - 22:29 ET by nkviking75It certainly illustrates the power of the MSM to shade the meaning of facts to suit whatever happens to be the agenda.