Airline Data on Diversions 'Highly Suspicious', Says FlyersRights.org

Statistics Show Some Airlines Let You Decant in the Terminal, Others May Let
You Wither on the Vine

NAPA, Calif., July 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released
today by FlyersRights.org:

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released the latest
data installment for diverted commercial airline flights -- flights that make
unscheduled stops before they reach their final destinations; to refuel, or
due to weather or other in-flight emergencies. This is the eighth month since
the DOT began keeping detailed statistics for diverted flights. An exclusive
FlyersRights.org analysis of the data shows that American Airlines, American
Eagle, United Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines collectively
gave passengers an opportunity to deplane at a diverted airport 66% of the
time, while the other fifteen largest U.S. airlines gave passengers that
option 99% of the time -- according to the government data.

"If you believe DOT's statistics, you might avoid American, American Eagle,
United and Delta because according to the DOT's numbers, those four airlines
have alone been responsible for 1150 of 1181 instances where passengers were
not allowed to deplane at a diverted airport," said Kate Hanni,
FlyersRights.org president. Ms. Hanni's was one of 138 AA flights diverted on
December 29th, 2006. Her family was stranded on AA flight 1348 for over nine
hours without food, potable water or usable restrooms. According to the
statistics, American Airlines did not allow passengers to deplane 61% of the
time. The next closest airline was Delta with 47%.

"The data were so shocking that we asked the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS -- a department under the DOT) to verify the data before we
released our analysis to the public, and we also asked the DOT's Inspector
General to conduct an investigation," said Ms. Hanni. "If the airlines are not
reporting this data correctly, that's a violation of federal law." Through
both written statements and press accounts, the BTS and the airlines' trade
association have insisted the data is correct. "The IG hasn't responded as
yet."

"Meanwhile, we have an obligation to let consumers know which airlines have a
track record of giving weary passengers an option to wait out the diversion in
the comfort of an airport terminal, and which ones don't," said Ms. Hanni.

Spreadsheets and methodology for the diversion analysis can be obtained on the
organization's website www.flyersrights.org.

FlyersRights.org has over 25,000 members.
Contact: Kate Hanni Phone: (707) 337-0328
Email: kate@flyersrights.org

SOURCE FlyersRights.org

Kate Hanni of FlyersRights.org, +1-707-337-0328, kate@flyersrights.org