“A bill that would require airlines to provide basic amenities for passengers — including water, snacks, fresh air, sanitary restrooms and lights — if their airplane is delayed on a tarmac in California for more than three hours is heading to state legislators for consideration. Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is sponsoring what he calls the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights, introduced Wednesday and modeled after legislation in New York that survived an airline industry challenge in federal court. ‘The status quo is really a tragedy waiting to happen,’ Leno said at a news conference at San Francisco International Airport, referring to a long list of protracted delays at airports, including delays of up to 11 hours for passengers on several JetBlue airplanes one year ago at New York’s Kennedy International Airport during a snow and ice storm.” (02/14/08)