Posted at: 08/11/2009 7:02 PM
By: Dietrich Nissen

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Push for Passenger Bill of Rights

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Last Friday’s nightmare flight, when passengers were stuck onboard for 6 hours, has re-sparked debate over passenger rights.

Now legislators are facing a call for the passage of a passenger’s bill of rights.

"Well I think that uh as soon as we can get it passed through whatever law channels it has to pass we should do it,” says David, a passenger.

The discussion began after a 2007 incident similar to the one last Friday.

After going through a nine-hour delay, Kate Hanni established flyers rights dot org -- a group lobbying for a passenger rights bill.

"It will mandate the airports and the airlines will have a plan for getting passengers of planes in three hours safely and provide for their needs," says Hanni.

In 2007, a passenger rights bill was introduced in the house but was quickly referred to the subcommittee of aviation where it sat for two years without any action.

Finally in January of this year, the house passed the bill.

Illinois Representative Jerry Costello says the next step is for the Senate to take charge.

"We think it's long overdue and I am anxious for the senate to pass their FAA reauthorization bill so can go to conference and get the reauthorization passed and on the president's desk," says Costello.
            
The senate will take a look at the bill in September.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of the bill's sponsors and says it is time for a change.

"I think it is long overdue time and time again we keep being told oh it's going to be ok you don't need any minimum standards for passengers and then something like this happens," Klobuchar says.

Costello says the earliest the bill could be on President Obama's desk is late September.

The airlines say they are opposed to the bill because of cost factors.