Tarmac Delays

Contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays

If you’re flight has a ‘tarmac delay’, Air India gives you the option to deplane in certain scenarios. Read the though our contingency plan below to know more: 

Our Contingency Plan

• Passengers shall have the option to deplane an aircraft when there is an excessive tarmac delay (a delay exceeding four hours) with the following exceptions:
  
• For departing flights: 
  a. If the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point no later than four hours after the main aircraft door is closed to deplane passengers.  
  b. If the aircraft is in an area not under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when a request is made to the Federal Aviation Administration control tower, airport authority, or other relevant authority directing the aircraft’s operations.  
  c. If the aircraft is in an area under the carrier’s control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when the pilot begins manoeuvring the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point.
• The pilot-in-command determines that deplaning passengers at a suitable disembarkation point would jeopardize passenger safety or security, or there is a safety-related or security-related reason the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers.
  
• Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.
• Air India will provide adequate food and water two hours after the start of the tarmac delay unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.
  
• Air India will provide operable lavatory facilities, maintain comfortable cabin temperatures, and ensure adequate medical attention, if needed, during the tarmac delay.
  
• Air India will provide a status update to the onboard passengers during a tarmac delay after it exceeds 30 minutes.
  
• Air India will notify onboard passengers that they can deplane each time the plane is at a suitable disembarkation point for all departing flights and diversions.
  
• Air India has sufficient resources to implement this plan.
  
• Air India has coordinated this plan with airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each US airport that Air India serves, as well as Air India’s regular US diversion airports, and, if necessary, will work with airport authorities and other airlines to share facilities and make gates available in an emergency.
  
• Air India has coordinated this plan with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at each airport that Air India regularly uses for international flights, including diversion airports.
  
• Air India has coordinated this plan with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each US airport that Air India serves, including diversion airports.