'No You Can't' - Obama lays the smackdown on US Airlines

The Prez, peeved ©

For all that we stick it to domestic Aussie airlines, their sometimes less than perfect practices are truly nothing compared to some of the horror stories experienced in recent years by domestic air travellers in the US; in particular, recent incidents where passengers have been delayed on the tarmac, sometimes for over 9 hours, without food, water, air conditioning, functioning bathrooms or any entitlement to disembark the plane.

Not no more, though. Or at least, not no more without the airlines involved having to pay fines so massive it will surely see them amend behaviour.

As of December 22, 2009, the Obama Administration, through its Department of Transportation, can impose fines of US$27,500 per passenger on any domestic airline whose passengers are not offered food and water within two hours of being held on the tarmac; fines can also be imposed if, after three hours' delay on the tarmac, domestic airline passengers aren't offered the chance to disembark.

The new rule is the outcome of strenuous lobbying by the US not-for-profit group flyersrights.org and its founder, Kate Hanni. Her site, and her story, are worth a look.

Full details of the new rule can be found on the New York Times website here.

US domestic airlines complain the new rule is so arduous it may force some of them out of business. Good.