Bill Would Also Publicize Lost Baggage and Overbookings : Senate Calls for Airline Data on Delays

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Friday to require airlines to make public monthly reports on late or canceled flights, misplaced baggage and overbooking of passengers.

The measure, approved 88 to 5, would require the carriers to compile monthly on-time reports for all domestic flights--information that would be available to travelers at airports and from travel and ticket agents.

“This bill sends a message to the consumer that we’re trying to improve their flight service and to the airline industry to shape up because this is as far as we want troubles to go,” said Sen. Wendell H. Ford (D-Ky.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

‘Parameters of Conduct’

“Since deregulation, the airlines have forgotten the primary reason they’re in existence, and that’s the consumer,” Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said. “The industry needs some parameters of conduct.”

A spokesman for the airline industry said that passengers will get all the information they need without the legislation under recently imposed federal rules requiring large carriers to report monthly statistics on delays and lost baggage.

“We really don’t think legislation is necessary,” said Tim Neale of the Air Transport Assn. “But it’s coming at us anyhow.”

Starting this month, the Department of Transportation required 14 of the country’s largest airlines to submit the information for operations at the nation’s 27 busiest airports.

Two Amendments Approved

The Senate approved two controversial amendments to the legislation it passed Friday. One would require drug and alcohol testing for airline, railroad and trucking industry workers. The other would require the Department of Labor to protect the jobs, wages and working conditions of employees when airlines merge.

The drug-testing amendment would mandate random drug and alcohol testing by companies for airline pilots, railroad engineers, bus and truck drivers and other transportation workers with safety responsibilities. It also would require the Transportation Department to administer random testing to Federal Aviation Administration workers who hold safety-related jobs.

“The Senate vote is a major, major victory for a safe, drug-free transportation system,” said Sen. John C. Danforth (R-Mo.), a co-sponsor of the amendment. “We must pursue effective drug-testing programs until this legislation is the law of the land.”

Under the other amendment, the Labor Department would review proposed mergers to determine the possible effect on workers’ jobs, wages or working conditions. If it determined that jobs are threatened, the department could take steps to protect workers, such as requiring binding arbitration.

Sets Up Complaint Line

Under the Senate bill, the Transportation Department would establish a toll-free complaint line for consumers.

A House version of the bill, which passed Oct. 5, contains no drug-testing provision. It also would force airlines to give free tickets to fliers whose luggage is lost and would place a ceiling on the number of flights using the nation’s busiest airports. Differences between the two bills must be resolved before the legislation is sent to President Reagan.

Administration officials have expressed opposition to several provisions in the legislation and have threatened to urge that the President veto it.