US: Airlines sue over new Washington state sick leave law

A coalition of airlines including Alaska, JetBlue, United and Southwest has sued Washington state over its new sick leave law, saying it's part of a mishmash of state and local measures that could increase costs and delays for travellers — and which are blocked by federal regulation of air travel and interstate commerce. Airlines For America filed the lawsuit Tuesday. The organisation said at least 6 other states — Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont — and 30 cities have paid sick leave laws. "Airlines cannot operate their nationwide systems properly if flight crews are subject to the employment laws of every state in which they are based, live, or pass through," A4A said Wednesday. The lawsuit seeks a ruling that federal regulation of air travel precludes Washington state's sick leave law. <br/>