On February 14, 2008, thousands of passengers were stranded for up to ten hours onboard several JetBlue Airways aircraft on the tarmac at Kennedy International Airport. The passengers complained that they were deprived of food and water and that restrooms were not available as toilets had overflowed. A month later, several hundred passengers travelling with several other airlines were stranded aboard planes at JFK after a day-long ice storm. In response, New York State passed a law providing airline passengers with certain minimum rights, which if violated would attract fines payable by the airlines. The New York State law was later “struck down” in a court decision finding that aviation was under federal and not state jurisdiction.
Update on Bill C-310: Canadian Passenger Bill of Rights
December 7th, 2009 | CommentsFrom Human Rights to Animal Rights: Travelling with Pets
November 30th, 2009 | Comments
Earlier this year, Air Canada announced that it would allow cats and small dogs to ride in the passenger cabin of its aircraft. Although WestJet has for some time allowed cats, dogs, birds and rabbits on its flights, there was a negative reaction to Air Canada’s announcement. Specifically, there has been strong opposition by allergy and asthma sufferers about the health hazards associated with having pets in the aircraft cabin. This past fall, the Canadian Lung Association commenced a “Say No to Pets on Planes!” campaign in an effort to urge the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health to take action against the airlines.
