Tarmac Delays

Contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays

We will allow you to deplane in specific scenarios if your flight has a tarmac delay. You can read our contingency plan below for more information.

Contingency Plan For Tarmac days

 

Our contingency plan

  • You can deplane an aircraft when there is an excessive tarmac delay (a delay exceeding four hours) with the following exceptions:

For departing flights

a. If the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point four hours after the main aircraft door is closed to deplane passengers.

b. If the aircraft is in an area not under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when a request is made to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) control tower, airport authority, or other relevant authority directing the aircraft’s operations.  

c. If the aircraft is in an area under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when the pilot begins manoeuvring the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point.

d. The pilot-in-command determines that deplaning passengers at a suitable disembarkation point would jeopardize passenger safety or security, or there is a safety-related or security-related reason the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers.

e. Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.

  • We will provide adequate food and water two hours after the start of the tarmac delay unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.
  • We will provide operable lavatory facilities, maintain comfortable cabin temperatures, and ensure adequate medical attention, if needed, during the tarmac delay.
  • A status update will be provided to all the onboard guests during a tarmac delay after it exceeds 30 minutes.
  • All onboard guests will be notified that they can deplane each time the plane is at a suitable disembarkation point for all departing flights and diversions.
  • Before the contingency plan is implemented, we will ensure we have sufficient resources to do so.
  • We will ensure that this plan is coordinated with the following:

a. Airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each US airport that we serve, as well as our regular US diversion airports, and, if necessary, will work with airport authorities and other airlines to share facilities and make gates available in an emergency.

b. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at each airport we regularly use for international flights, including diversion airports.

c. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each US airport we serve, including diversion airports.