New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) is plesed to announce that the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights has taken effect as of January 1, 2008. Senator Skelos was a Co-Sponsor of this legislation whic passed both Houses of the Legislature durring the 2007 Legislative Session and signed into law by the Governor.
"New York is home to some of the world’s busiest airports, it is important that we were able to adopt measures that will make air travel as comfortable as possible for passengers," said Senator Skelos. "This new law will help protect passengers on delayed flights and ensure that they are not held hostage without amenities, but rather are treated with respect."
The new law sets basic customer standards that all major airlines should follow, while providing important consumer protections for passengers. All airlines at New York airports would be required to provide snacks and water, fresh air and power, and working rest rooms to passengers on any plane that has been delayed for more than three hours.
The law also creates the Office of Airline Consumer Advocate within the New York State Consumer Protection Board to provide the public with a New York State-based consumer advocate and contact person who can help to coordinate with the appropriate airline industry officials, federal agencies and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the event an incident occurs. Passengers will have an Airline Ombudsman Office to whom they can turn to if they feel that an airline is violating these rights. Airlines that do not follow the law will face penalties of up to $1,000 per passenger per violation
