US carriers face fines over stranded passengers

Two US-based airlines are facing major fines after customers were grounded for hours at the weekend.

Travel Insurance News - 03/11/2011

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Hundreds of passengers were stuck at Hartford Bradley International Airport on Saturday after an American Airlines flight and six JetBlue flights were diverted to the Connecticut hub from New York airports due to a severe snowstorm in the region.

Passengers were caught up at the facility for seven hours and complained of backed up toilets and a lack of food and water. Some travellers were not allowed to disembark from aircraft and many were forced to stay the night in Connecticut, missing connecting flights.

Now the two airlines could have to pay as much as $27,000 for each affected passenger due to ‘tarmac delay’ regulations that went into force last year, which hold air carriers responsible for providing passengers with ample conditions and nourishment during prolonged delays.

Spokespersons for the two airlines said that they delays were caused by power outages at the airport, which made the necessity of refuelling aircraft exceptionally difficult. American Airlines said that passengers on its affected flight – inbound from Charles de Gaulle – weren’t allowed off of the plane because US customs had barred them from doing so.

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