Washington, D.C. – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena).  The bill would give passengers the right to deplane after any ground delay of 3 hours or more and would require airlines to provide passengers with adequate food, safe drinking water, sanitary facilities and a reasonable temperature while waiting on an aircraft.

“Problems with delays and wait times on airlines have been in the news recently, and I have heard many complaints from air travelers in my area,” said Rep. Lofgren.  “The Passenger Bill of Rights lays out specific standards that are the bare minimum of how passengers should be treated in the case of delays and cancellations.  By sponsoring this bill, I hope to ensure that customers are assured at least these basic requirements when they fly.”

Additional provisions in the bill would:

·        Require airlines to frequently update passengers at the airport and aboard aircraft on the cause and timing of delays;

·        Require airlines to disclose information on chronically delayed or cancel flights at the time of ticket purchase;

·        Require airlines to make every effort to return checked bags to passengers within 24 hours;

·        Require airlines to draft and prominently display a Passenger Bill of Rights; and

·        Require airlines to make information on the lowest fares readily available to the traveling public.