US transportation chief wants healthier snacks on flights

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants airlines to ditch salty pretzels and calorie-laden cookies in favor of on-board healthier options.

"I would love some better snacks. I would love a little healthier snack on the airplane," Duffy said in an interview with Blaze News posted Tuesday, adding it would be much better "if I didn't get the really fattening cookie full of butter, sugar and crap. Or that little snack pack of pretzels."

Airlines for America, a trade group representing American Airlines AAL.O, Delta Air Lines DAL.N, Southwest Airlines LUV.N, United Airlines UAL.O and others, declined to comment.

Duffy last week rolled out a new campaign encouraging people to act and dress nicely during air travel, asking travelers not to wear pajamas and slippers to the airport. "Don't take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you," Duffy said Monday.

Duffy is overseeing a $12.5 billion overhaul of the nation's air traffic control system and working to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. He wants Congress to approve another $19 billion to complete the job.

Duffy has also faced criticism after USDOT this month withdrew a plan by his predecessor to require airlines to pay passengers cash compensation when U.S. flight disruptions are caused by carriers.

Duffy defended the decision to drop the compensation plan, telling Fox News he was taking a more "common-sense approach" and argued the compensation plan would lead to higher ticket prices. "We just want to have the right balance between the airlines and the passengers," Duffy said.

Airlines in the U.S. must refund passengers for canceled flights, but are not required to compensate customers for delays. The European Union, Canada, Brazil and Britain all have airline delay compensation rules.

No large U.S. airline guarantees cash compensation for flight disruptions but many offer hotel rooms, meals and pay for other out-of-pocket costs if they cause delays.

-David Shepardson/Reuters