Here’s the latest on that passenger rights bill I’ve been obsessing about in this blog: I’m told that the idea is still very much alive. It’s apparently being attached to the FAA reauthorization bill, where it stands a better-than-average chance of making it all the way into law.
For the Air Transport Association, the trade group representing the airlines, this could represent a mixed blessing. The airlines love elements of the proposed 2008 budget, which included language requesting aviation user fees (something they’ve long sought).
But when Congress authorizes the FAA’s budget, and they find a passenger bill of rights attached to it … they’re going to need to cool their jets.
I still don’t think Big Air is going to directly oppose a bill of rights, because it just wouldn’t look good. Others will, perhaps on their behalf. (Already, one interest group is on the record as opposing the bill, but I can’t be sure it’s on the airlines behalf.)
Still, you can be sure there are a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations going on between the airline lobbyists and our elected representatives in an effort to quietly kill these new rules. (“Congressman, how about a lifetime pass for you and your family on our airline?”)
I do think a compromise might still be possible. If the airlines agreed to amend their contracts of carriage to include elements of the bill, then legislation might be less necessary. But I don’t see any evidence of willingness to make any such changes — at least not from where I sit.
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