WASHINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - 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 ), Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), Southwest Airlines ( LUV )

, United Airlines 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.