Passenger bill gets Tory support

The mayor of an eastern Newfoundland town has scored a major political victory in his long battle to ensure passengers get better treatment from airlines.

Conception Bay South Mayor Woodrow French said Friday the federal conservative government is going to endorse his concept of a passenger's bill of rights and support it when it's put to a vote in the House of Commons.  

French hopes it will lead to some big improvements for airline passengers, including compensation for being bumped off flights.

The bill of rights would also deal with passengers being looked after and communicated to when there are flight delays, and "not being left on a tarmac for three or four hours without use of washrooms and without having food.

So it would be issues like that they would address. and of course more timely information," French said.

The passengers' bill of rights is part of a private members bill introduced by Liberal MP Gerry Byrne. It is expected to be voted on in the House of Commons June 12.  

French said Tory MP Fabian Manning's office called him to let him know the government will support the private members bill, and that it could lead to new federal legislation.