FORT MYERS, Fla. - A new regulation has gone into effect, and the rule is sure to make life easier for many airline passengers.

The new regulation prohibits U.S. airlines from keeping passengers on the tarmac for a period of more than 3 hours.  Airlines are also required to provide food and water to passengers if they're made to wait for longer than two hours.

Violations of this new regulation will result in hefty fines of up to $27,000 per passenger - that could equal more than $3 million per flight. The new rule went into effect today, Thursday, April 29, 2010.