CONTACT:
Caleb Tiller, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 138, ctiller@nbta.org
Nicole Hayes, +1 703-684-0836 ext. 133, nhayes@nbta.org
NBTA Congratulates U.S. Transportation Department for Strengthening Airline Passenger Rights
New Rule Limits Airline Tarmac Delays to Three Hours
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) – the voice of the business travel industry – today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for issuing a new rule that establishes a three-hour time limit after which U.S. airlines are required to permit passengers to deplane delayed domestic flights. The new rule also requires carriers to provide food and potable drinking water within two hours of a tarmac delay.
NBTA Executive Director & COO Michael W. McCormick said:
"NBTA congratulates the Department of Transportation for standing up for airline passengers who are stranded in extended tarmac delays. After years of advocating private sector solutions for this problem, NBTA endorsed federal legislation in August to provide passengers with basic standards of customer service in these infrequent but unacceptable situations.
With legislation drafted by Senators Olympia Snowe and Barbara Boxer stalled due to broader fights over the FAA Reauthorization bill, DOT has showed great leadership in issuing landmark regulations to protect passengers and accomplish one of NBTA’s main policy goals."
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is
the world’s premier business travel and corporate
meetings organization. NBTA and its regional
affiliates – NBTA Australia / New Zealand, the
Brazilian Business Travel Association (ABGEV), NBTA
Canada, NBTA Europe, NBTA Mexico, and NBTA USA –
serve a network of more than 17,000 business travel
professionals around the globe with industry-leading
events, networking, education & professional
development, research, news & information, and
advocacy. NBTA members, numbering more than 5,000 in
30 nations, are corporate and government travel and
meetings managers, as well as travel service
providers. They collectively manage and direct more
than US$340 billion of global business travel and
meetings expenditures annually on behalf of more
than 13 million business travelers within their
organizations. For more information, visit
www.nbta.org