The plane's cabin door was closed a few hours ago, you are locked in your seat, you are still on the ground and you don't go anywhere fast. What gives?
Tarmac delays may be routine, but it doesn't make them a nightmare. And these instances of passenger purgatory seem to be only frequent for airlines entering and leaving the US.
Long tarmac delays – It is defined as more than 3 hours on domestic flights and more than 4 hours on international flights, but it jumped. Last year, the airline reported 437 tarmac delays on domestic flights compared to 289 in 2023, 35 in 2023, and 61 in international flights, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. For domestic flights, these delays have steadily risen, doubling from 2018 to 2024.
Here's what passengers need to know about tarmac delays and what they owes when they happen:
You may not know why you are stuck.
Weather, air traffic control, safety, maintenance or operational issues can all lead to tarmac delays. Travelers may know why their flights are being postponed. Most airlines pledge to provide passengers with regular status updates when delays exceed 30 minutes, but not all promise to share the cause. Delta and United Airlines say they will do so on their website. Others, including Southwest Airlines, are not.
Experts say there is no definitive explanation for the spikes in last year's long tarmac delays. Frequently thunderstorms can be negligent, Michael McCormick, a professor of air traffic management at Enbriliddle Aviation University, said John Cox, a former airline pilot who runs a safety consulting firm, may have highlighted the airline's operations.
You may be entitled to some basic support.
During tarmac delays, airlines generally need to provide passengers with food and drinks to provide passengers and to provide comfortable cabin temperatures and medical assistance.
At U.S. airports, airlines must give passengers water and snacks, unless there is a safety or security reason, according to the transport department. They don't need to provide a complete meal.
In Europe, the right to have a snack in two hours on short flights, three hours on medium flights and four hours on long flights, according to Airhelp, a Berlin company that supports airline billing passengers.
Canada also requires airlines to allow passengers to use their phones and provide free Wi-Fi if possible, according to Canadian Transportation.
In many countries, it can deplete after 3 hours.
In the US, airlines have three hours for domestic flights, and three hours to travel the plane to a place where passengers can safely disembark (4 hours for international flights), according to the Department of Transportation. Exceptions include safety, security, or air traffic control reasons. These same time frames are in place in Europe. Canada also uses the 3-hour rule, with exceptions.
However, once you get off the plane, you may not be able to get back to it.
The transport department says there is no need for airlines to allow disembarked passengers to reload or collect checked luggage. If you leave the plane and it departs without you, you will be on the hook to book and pay for your exchange flight.
In Europe, passengers can receive compensation.
Tarmac delays tend to be less frequently in Europe, according to Airhelp CEO Tomasz Pawliszyn.
Travelers who arrive at their destination more than three hours late may be able to receive cash. The amount varies depending on the distance, and can be up to 600 euros, or about $660. And if the delay leads to a delayed arrival of more than five hours, passengers have the right to refund the fare if they do not go on flight.
The rules cover all passengers, regardless of nationality, and even US carriers, including flights derived from the European Union. For flights to EU countries, this rule applies only to EU carriers.
How to file a complaint.
Please contact the airline first. As a last resort, reach out to relevant transport in the country where tarmac delays occur. In the US, that's the transportation sector. In the European Union, it varies by member state.
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