Tarmac delays in severe weather: DOT rules and 2026 BTS data through May

Severe storms can do more than delay flights—they can leave aircraft waiting on the ground while airport and air-traffic operations get sorted out. For example, CBS Atlanta reported that a storm-driven FAA ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta ended early on July 3, 2026, but flight delays remained.

When passengers may be trapped aboard an aircraft, federal “tarmac delay” rules determine what airlines must provide—and what regulators track after the fact.

What counts as a DOT “tarmac delay”?

DOT describes a tarmac delay as a situation where an airplane on the ground is either awaiting takeoff or has just landed, and passengers do not have the opportunity to get off the plane. DOT’s tarmac-delay rule applies at U.S. airports and only to “covered carriers” (airlines that operate at least one aircraft with 30 or more seats to, from, or within the United States).

The time thresholds: 3 hours (domestic) and 4 hours (international)

DOT’s passenger protections start once the delay hits specific limits:

• Departing flights from U.S. airports: the airline must begin to move the airplane to a location where passengers can safely get off before 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.
• Arriving flights at U.S. airports: the airline must provide passengers an opportunity to safely get off before 3 hours for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights.

DOT allows narrow exceptions only for safety, security, or air-traffic-control-related reasons. DOT also says passengers should not exit unless the airline tells them it’s safe.

What airlines must provide once the delay stretches

DOT also spells out the on-ground supports passengers should expect during a tarmac delay, including:

• Updates: the airline must provide a notification about the status of the delay when it exceeds 30 minutes.
• Food and water: airlines must provide a snack (for example, a granola bar) and drinking water no later than two hours after the start of the tarmac delay.
• Working toilets, cabin conditions, and medical help: DOT requires working toilets, comfortable cabin temperatures, and adequate medical attention if needed.
• Opportunity to get off: if the airline determines passengers can safely get off during the delay, DOT says it must timely notify passengers that they can choose to get off.

DOT also emphasizes a key passenger consideration: if passengers choose to get off during a tarmac delay, the airline is not required to let them back on. DOT also notes passengers may need to contact the airline about checked bags if they leave the aircraft.

BTS Transtats: what the 2026 “tarmac time” numbers measure

DOT’s passenger-protection rules are separate from BTS’s statistics. BTS tracks “tarmac time” as reported by airlines. BTS explains that tarmac time is any time away from the terminal while passengers are required to be on the aircraft, and it should be calculated from the time the aircraft door is locked or unlocked.

In BTS’s Domestic Tarmac Times table, the page notes: “Data available through May 2026.” In that table, BTS shows 200 domestic tarmac times for 2025 and 342 for 2026 (through May).

Because the 2026 figure is only year-to-date through May, readers should treat it as a partial-year snapshot rather than a full comparable total for the calendar year.

What’s changing in DOT reporting starting April 1, 2026

DOT has also updated how airlines document certain lengthy tarmac-delay incidents for regulators. Starting April 1, 2026, DOT says written reports of lengthy tarmac-delay incidents must be submitted through a new reporting module in the Aviation Complaint, Enforcement, and Reporting System (ACERS), to the DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP).

For incidents meeting the “lengthy tarmac” threshold, DOT’s reporting guidance includes a minimum package of information in a written description—such as flight identification, originally scheduled route details, the airport/date/length of the delay, and an incident explanation that covers actions taken to minimize hardships (including food and water, lavatory maintenance/servicing, and medical assistance)—plus a signed certification statement.

DOT also says the written descriptions must be submitted no later than 30 days after the tarmac delay occurs.

If you’re affected: what to document

If your flight is held on the ground and you’re trying to match what happened to DOT’s protections, the most useful records are time-anchored:

• Flight number, airline, and departure/arrival airports.
• As closely as possible, when the delay started and when announcements/notifications were made (especially once you pass the “30 minutes” mark).
• Whether food and water were offered, and roughly how long after the delay began.
• Whether working toilets, cabin temperature support, and medical attention were provided if needed.
• Any instructions about getting off the plane (and whether reboarding was permitted).

With severe weather continuing to disrupt schedules, these details can matter for your immediate comfort—and for accountability later, including how airlines describe incidents to DOT.

Sources

• U.S. DOT: Tarmac Delays (passenger protections)
• BTS Transtats: Domestic Tarmac Times table (2026 through May)
• BTS: About the New Tarmac Time Data

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