Issued today by the U.S. Department of Transportation
after much debate, the rule--set to take effect in April 2010--also requires airlines "to provide adequate food and potable drinking water for passengers within two hours of the aircraft being delayed on the tarmac and to maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention." Other components of the rule include a prohibition against "scheduling chronically delayed flights" and requirements related to airline customer service plans. The Air Transport Association issued a statement committing its member airlines to "comply with the new rule even though we believe it will lead to unintended consequences--more cancelled flights and greater passenger inconvenience."