Airlines must let passengers stuck in airplanes stranded on the tarmac get off after 3 hours, the Transportation Department today ordered. They’re also now only allowed to starve you for 2 hours, after which they must serve pizza or a reasonable facsimile. Toilets must be functional during the entire time as well.

In addition, airlines are prohibted from scheduling flights that are always always delayed.

Airlines that violate the rules will be subject to some sort of government enforcement action.

The new rules may not save anyone any holiday travel headaches; the regulations don’t go into effect for 120 days.

U.S. Limits Tarmac Waits for Passengers to Three Hours [NYT via Jeff Jarvis]

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