To focus on C-310…I’ve got to agree that the bill is ridiculously harsh. If we see something similar to the February 14, 2007, jetBlue JFK pileup, is it really entirely the airlines’ faults? Sure, jetBlue could’ve handled things a bit better, but if there’s no gates available to empty passengers into and equipment is frozen in place, then what are they supposed to do? If there’s more planes than gates, and the weather’s not letting anything move, then somebody’s bound to get stuck. If the infrastructure to deal with the problem isn’t in place, should airlines be smacked around to the tune of $500 a person because of it?

I think some of the focus should be cast on airport infrastructure in addition to the current focus of airline policy. I mentioned an idea in a previous post concerning the Dulles mobile lounges…why not station a couple of cold-weather-hardened PlaneMates at major airports that experience incliment winter weather on a regular basis? That way, if the weather hits and no gates are open for planes stuck on the ramp, then there’s still an option available for deplaning passengers.