(RTTNews) - The U.S. Department of Transportation, or DOT, has levied Tuesday a civil penalty against Continental Airlines, Inc. (CAL: News ) and ExpressJet Airlines for creating discomfort to passengers on board Continental Express flight 2816 to remain on the aircraft at Rochester International Airport for an unreasonable period of time on Aug. 8, 2009.

DOT has levied the Airlines with a total civil penalty of $100 thousand. Continental has already provided a full refund to the passengers and also offered each passenger additional compensation to tangibly acknowledge their time and discomfort.

DOT also charged Mesaba Airlines a civil penalty of $75 thousand for its role in the incident, which had provided ground handling for the flight.

These are said to be the first orders alleged by DOT's Aviation Enforcement Office, punishing carriers for extended tarmac delays and also for the first time a carrier acting as a ground handler for another airline has been punished for not properly helping the passengers to leave an aircraft during an unreasonably long tarmac delay.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "I hope that this sends a signal to the rest of the airline industry that we expect airlines to respect the rights of air travelers. We will also use what we have learned from this investigation to strengthen protections for airline passengers subjected to long tarmac delays."
In November 2008, the Department had proposed a rule to enhance airline passenger protections, including a provision that would require airlines to adopt contingency plans for lengthy tarmac delays and incorporate them in their contracts of carriage.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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