The Watertown Daily Times editorial writers have a problem with New York State's "Air Traveler's Bill of Rights" which was penned following incidents that left airline passengers trapped on planes without fresh air, water or bathroom facilities for as long as 10 hours.
The objection seems to be that airlines shouldn't be bothered with 50 different sets of rules, and that the federal government's oversight is enough. The State of New York holds that the issue has to do with health and safety, and Federal Judge Lawrence Kahn agreed. Good for him.
The regulation of the airline industry has evolved into a situation in which paying airline passengers have fewer rights than illegal aliens. There have been many cases of transporters of illegal aliens or "coyotes" being caught with dozens of illegals packed into a truck with no bathrooms, water or fresh air. They are, of course, arrested and charged with all of the appropriate crimes. But not on an airliner. The Pilot is the boss, and as far as the feds are concerned you checked your rights at the ramp. You can be arrested if the crew decides that you are unruly, or you fail to follow their orders.
The almighty dollar, and the quest for the bottom line have supplanted the rights of passengers. Airline regulation that gave pilots and crews far reaching powers were enacted with the idea of preserving the safety of passengers. The law of unintended consequences has produced a system that cares nothing about the health and safety of passengers.
The State of New York was right to step in. Shame on the federal government for making it necessary.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
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