Tech & Biz

Tarmac Delays To Be No Longer Than 3 Hours According To New Rules

by Yuliya Talmazan | December 21, 2009 at 03:49 pm

114 views | 4 Recommendations | 2 comments

New rules imposed on the U.S. airlines by the Obama administration today state that no tarmac waits can now exceed three hours for any domestic flights. Airlines will not be allowed to keep passengers on the tarmac for more than three hours without given passengers an option to deplane. Moreover, passengers have to be fed and given water within two hours of boarding. Washrooms must also be made available while waiting. And, medical help should be disposable, if necessary.

The fines for airlines that fail to abide by the new rules will be as high as $27,500 a passenger, which can amount to over $8 million for a 300-seat plane. The rule would apply to planes with more than 30 seats. The changes are expected to take effect starting in spring time -- 120 days from now.

What were people's reactions to the announcement? Here are some of the Tweets on the topic:

joejonb: What a shame the airlines couldn't regulate their own bad policy on passenger rights with excessive tarmac flight delays. Shame.

pvanvuren: Three-hour limit imposed on tarmac strandings: WASHINGTON • Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins — the.. http://bit.ly/8y2ApS

dpasamonte: no more airline tarmac hostage. USA govt imposes 3hr limit on tarmac strandings: http://bit.ly/4NJTXL

graemeabrown: @hyde_end Is that what has paralysed the whole SE? That black stuff you see is called tarmac, get on with it you bunch of southern softies!

myconey: more than three hours on the tarmac? get off - yay! http://tinyurl.com/finallyflyhappy

Todfilm: Finally our government accomplishes something. From Consumerist: "Tarmac Imprisonment Limited To 3 Hours" http://tinyurl.com/ydkfyn9

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YankeeJim

at 16:34 on December 21st, 2009

You know that they are just going to keep everyone on the tarmac for three hours just because they can?

JustinTucker

at 09:01 on December 22nd, 2009

I don't understand why it is so hard to roll a stairway out there and let people of the plane. Or make one of the empty planes sitting at a gate back out and let the CUSTOMERS out of the plane.

I can't believe people sit there for 6 hours, if they would raise enough h*** as a group they would let them of the plane.