Govornment will not exempt airlines from tarmac time limit

WASHINGTON – Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday he has turned down requests from five airlines for temporary exemptions to a rule against keeping passengers waiting longer than three hours on airport tarmacs. The new rule goes into effect April 29. The department has said airlines may be fined up to $27,500 per passenger for each violation. "Passengers on flights delayed on the tarmac have a right to know they will not be held aboard a plane indefinitely," LaHood said in a statement. "This is an important consumer protection, and we believe it should take effect as planned." The provision was part of a new airline passenger protection rule announced by LaHood in December...