New Government Rule to Limit Tarmac Delays
After a year of high profile horror stories where passengers were stuck for hours on planes which sat idly on a runway, the Department of Transportation has announced a rule prohibiting U.S. aircraft on domestic routes from remaining on a tarmac for more than three hours with travelers aboard. If an airline is unable to take-off within three hours of its departure from the gate, the plane will now be forced back to the terminal so passengers can deplane.
"Airline passengers have rights, and these new rules will require airlines to live up to their obligation to treat their customers fairly," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.
Airlines also are required to provide adequate food and water for passengers within two hours of their plane being delayed on the tarmac. They must also maintain operable restrooms and provide medical attention if necessary.
The rule is a victory for passengers' rights organizations, which have long pushed for such a measure. It will take effect approximately 4 months from now.
Critics say the move will actually make bad situations worse. While no one wants to sit on a runway, they argue, most would prefer to do so than have their flight canceled altogether. According to James May, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association which represents U.S. airlines, "We will comply with the new rule even though we believe it will lead to unintended consequences -- more canceled flights and greater passenger inconvenience. In particular, the requirement of having planes return to the gates within a three-hour window or face significant fines is inconsistent with our goal of completing as many flights as possible."
The new policy applies only to flights operating within the U.S. Exceptions to the three-hour rule would be allowed only for safety and security reasons or if air traffic controllers advise a pilot that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.
International flights are not effected by this decision and will not be subject to this rule.