12 January 2010

US government crackdown on late flights: try up in the air

The US government’s new crackdown on chronically late flights was cheered by consumers but stay in your seat: It may have little impact, after all.

In fact, only 55 flights last year of the 13,982 that qualified from January to November would have affected by the federal crackdown on airline tardiness, according to an analysis by the aviation data research firm FlightCaster.

"All 55 flights were to or from the New York City area's three airports," reports the AP, which commissioned the study.

Even the few airlines that are at risk of violating the rule can escape the up to $27,500 fine by adjusting their schedules or canceling flights.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the widely-praised rule as part of what he called President Barack Obama's ballyhooed "Passenger Bill of Rights."

Besides cracking down on chronically late flights, the Transportation Department also said it will impose stiff fines on airlines that trap passengers on tarmacs for more than three hours.

The rules, which don't require congressional approval, take effect in April.

The Transportation Department has not studied how many flights would have been affected in 2009, said agency spokesman Bill Mosley. About 60 flights could have violated the rule if it was in effect in 2008, he said.

By David Wilkening