Tarmac delays decline in August
October 13, 2010, 03:19 pm
The number of tarmac delays is continuing their downward trend. The U.S. Department of Transportation says only one flight was delayed more than three hours on the tarmac this past August.
A rule was established earlier this year that prohibits airlines from leaving passengers in an airplane left sitting in the tarmac for more than three hours.
Opponents of the law said it would result in more flights being cancelled. However, their claims have not been borne out by facts. Large airlines cancelled 1 percent of their flights in August 2010, the same percentage as reported during the same month the previous year.
"These numbers show that the tarmac delay rule is protecting passengers from being trapped indefinitely aboard an airplane - with little or no increase in canceled flights," says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Also, it shows that the hard work the airlines are putting into implementing the rule is paying off."
Airlines that do not givepassengers the opportunity to depart the aircraft before the three hour mark can be fined $27,500 per passenger - a hefty fine for struggling to stay out of the red.
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