The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) president Kathryn W. Sudeikis, CTC, urged the House of Representatives to act favorably on the extension of protection for consumers…
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) president Kathryn W. Sudeikis, CTC, urged the House of Representatives to act favorably on the extension of protection for consumers holding tickets on non-operating airlines, prior to Congress’ anticipated adjournment tomorrow.
“These are perilous times, with so much of the Nation’s air transportation capacity in the hands of bankrupt or otherwise financially troubled carriers,” Sudeikis said. “It is absolutely essential that Congress act immediately to extend the protection afforded under Section 145 of the 2001 Aviation and Transportation Security Act, so that consumers can have at least some assurance that efforts will be made to provide them with transportation in the event that one of these financially distressed carriers were to actually cease operation.
“I commend the Senate for including this air traveler protection measure in the bill it passed yesterday. It is now up to the House of Representatives to do its part to make sure that the same measure is included in their version of the intelligence bill,” she concluded.
Section 145 provides that airline passengers holding tickets (paper or electronic) from a bankrupt carrier for a particular route are entitled, at minimum, to transportation on a space-available basis on ANY airline currently serving that route within 60 days after an airline has suspended operations. Additionally, the maximum fee that an airline can charge for providing standby transportation should not exceed $25 each way. However, these protections are currently due to expire Nov. 19, 2004. Extension for the authorization of this requirement is contained in The National Intelligence Reform Act, passed by the Senate Oct. 6. The President is expected to sign the final intelligence bill.
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