Long delay in flights caused many more problems to creep up. There were stinky toilets, no food, no water, airless cabins which caused chaos in the flight. Passengers were aboard grounded planes for more than three hours.

After the geared up vacations, the rules are being forgotten, but once the rules are in place, airlines could face fines of $27,500 for each passenger kept on board beyond the time limit, which could total millions for a violation involving a single, packed jetliner.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that the three-hour limit and other new regulations are meant to send an unequivocal message to airlines not to hold passengers hostage on stuck planes. Coming on the eve of the busy holiday travel season, the announcement was hailed by consumer advocates as "a Christmas miracle".

This year through Oct. 31, there were 864 flights with taxi out times or flight diversions of three hours or more, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Continental Airlines, Express

Jet Airlines and Mesaba Airlines were fined $175,000 by the department for delays in their flights.

Transportation Department released a 119-page document declaring that food and water should be provided to the passengers within two hours of a plane being delayed on a tarmac and operable lavatories should be maintained. Also, medical help should also be provided when necessary.