Chicago aldermen are debating an airline passengers' bill of rights

that would force airlines using gates at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports to cap wait times on airport tarmacs at three hours and compensate passengers for delays of four hours or more. Aldermen Ed Burke, Danny Solis and Isaac Carothers introduced the bill into the Chicago City Council because they were tired of waiting for Washington to act on similar proposals. If adopted, Chicago would be the first city in the nation to protect its air travelers from "interminable delays on the ground."