Buffalo, New York- June 30, 2009 – In light of Continental Airlines’ concerted effort to distance itself from the tragedy of Continental Flight 3407 operated by Colgan Air, the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407′ gave Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) high praise for his recently introduced legislation that will increase passengers’ awareness of the actual carrier operating each and every flight when they are purchasing plane tickets.
“My brother spent $2300 on his ticket for Flight 3407, bought it under the Continental logo, and he did so expecting a certain high level of quality and service,” stated Erin Perry of Fairfax, Virginia, who lost her brother Johnathan and future sister-in-law Nicole Korczykowski, both of New York City. “Unfortunately, now our family feels like he was a victim of the bait-and-switch by Continental. Senator Schumer’s bill hopefully will ensure more accountability on the part of regional carriers like Colgan, and greater scrutiny by their parent carriers like Continental. And it will make it easier for air travelers throughout the country who have been horrified by the revelations of the poor safety practices at Colgan Air to select an alternate carrier that will hopefully give them a better chance of getting to their destination safely than our loved ones had.”
The bill, introduced in the Senate on June 17th, will require websites that sell airline tickets to list the regional carrier operating each leg of the flight on the first listing of the flight. Currently, many sites that offer plane tickets for purchase do not list the actual operator until the purchaser has actually selected that flight, which often successfully allows regional carriers like Colgan to hide behind their parent carrier’s name.
Currently there are three pieces of legislation in the Senate that are supported by the family group. Senator Schumer has also introduced a bill that mandates a non-industry representative of aviation safety interests on the FAA Administrator’s Management Advisory Council, his inner circle of advisors. And Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have introduced a comprehensive bill calling for a wide range of aviation safety reforms in the areas of hiring, training, fatigue, and National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations that have not been satisfactorily implemented by the FAA. In addition to Senators Snowe and Boxer, the bill also has received the support of Senator Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and the ‘Families of Continental Flight 3407’ are also pressing for the support of twenty other senators who have previously met with members of the group.