Republicans mull bill to privatise US air traffic control

Washington

THE chairman of the US House of Representatives' Transportation Committee on Wednesday proposed legislation to privatise the US air traffic control system and make other aviation changes, but it faces an uncertain future in Congress. The panel plans to consider the bill next Tuesday, and the full House will vote in mid-July, said the committee's Republican chairman, Representative Bill Shuster.

"This is about saving the taxpayers' money," Mr Shuster told reporters on Wednesday. "Maintaining the status quo is unacceptable." The law would make it illegal for an airline to bump an already boarded passenger from a flight. In April, a United Airlines passenger was forcibly removed from his seat, prompting public outrage. The airline banned the practice.