NTA, Associations Lobby for Stranded Airline Passengers

October 20, 2005

NTA, Associations Lobby for Stranded Airline Passengers
October 20, 2005 – NTA has joined with the American Society of Travel Agents and the Business Travel Coalition in urging the passage of Senator Burns’ Amendment No. 2103 to the Senate Transportation Appropriation bill (H.R. 3058). This would extend Section 145 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act for one year.

This section provides that airline passengers holding tickets from a bankrupt carrier for a particular route are entitled to transportation on a space-available basis on any airline serving that route as long as alternation travel plans are make within 60 days after the bankrupt airline suspends operations. Additionally, the maximum fee that an airline can charge for providing standby transportation would not exceed $50 each way. These protections are set to expire on Nov. 19, 2005.

In a letter to United States senators, the group urged senators to vote "yes" for the amendment, stating that "customers can have at least some assurance that efforts will be made to provide them with transportation in the event that financially distressed carriers were to actually cease service."

"We are pleased to joins ASTA in the effort to secure the passage of Section 145 renewal. Tour operators and their customers need to have peace of mind in case of air service cessation and Section 145 would provide that," NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP, said. "We will enlist out Grassroots Action Network to ensure that tour operators’ are heard on this issue."