A runway delay, also known as a tarmac delay, can occur when an aeroplane on the ground is either delayed while awaiting takeoff or has just landed, but passengers cannot depart the plane. The plane is effectively stuck on the tarmac.
Keep the timing in mind. Know what rights you have after the delay reaches an hour (Europe). At this point it is a good idea to take a look at your airline’s contract of carriage for details of their policy.
Are you being offered water? Are the flight attendants keeping you informed of the situation? If not, kindly remind them that this is your right. If the tarmac delay extends beyond a few hours you should be given the option to de-plane (US). If not, the airline is not complying with the law. The airline can only keep you on the plane if it’s for safety reasons, or if facilitating departure would cause disruption of airport services.
It’s important to note that an airline is under no obligation to let you back in if you decide to disembark.
If you end up in a situation where the airline isn't complying with the law, file a complaint. In the US: you can contact the airline via email or mail; the airline has up to 60 days to respond. If the airline does not respond or if you are unsatisfied, you can register a complaint with The Department of Transportation.
There can be exceptions to the above rules. The rules do not apply in the following circumstances: 1. If the pilot believes that there is a reason to keep passengers on the plane, pertaining to safety or security; 2. If air traffic control advises that taxiing to a place where passengers can de-plane would significantly disrupt airport operations.
If you've found yourself subject to a runway delay and it's caused problems for your onward journey, not to stress, simply get in contact with one of our customer service members and they will be able to advise you on the next steps.
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The Department of Transportation requires only ‘covered carriers’ to comply with the tarmac delay rule. A ‘covered carrier’ is defined as any airline that operates at least one aeroplane with a seating capacity of 30 or more passenger seats to, from, or within the United States. This will apply to the majority of commercial passenger carriers.
No. If you have check-in baggage in the aeroplane hold, the airline is not required to unload your checked bags before taking off. You will be responsible for contacting the airline to arrange the return of your baggage at a later date.
Airlines are required to provide passengers with notifications regarding the status of the flight delay every 30 minutes. This should include the reasons for the tarmac delay. During these announcements, the airline must also inform passengers whether it is safe to depart, and must continue to do so if the opportunity to de-plane continues to exist.
Tarmac delays can occur for a variety of reasons. This could be adverse weather conditions, air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, or maybe the lack of crew available to work the flight.
If you've experienced a tarmac delay and are unsure of what to do next, not to worry! If you booked a flight and added on Cancellation Protection, you may be due some compensation. Each case is different, however, Cancellation Protection is there to give you peace of mind when making your booking with us. This protection allows you or any member of your party to claim a full refund on your flight if it can no longer be used due to an 'emergency circumstance', so is a great addition to have.
If you did not purchase Cancellation Protection, and the tarmac delay was ongoing, the airline will be in contact with you directly to discuss your options.
