Airlines report no tarmac delays in October
2010-12-10
October was a record month for American airlines, as there were no tarmac delays for more than three hours throughout the month, according to the United States Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.
After the U.S. implemented a new rule penalizing carriers for tarmac delays of three hours or more, airlines have worked hard to keep this issue at an absolute minimum. The rule states that domestic flights must evacuate all passengers if the airline expects to exceed the time limit.
"October was the first month that there were no tarmac delays lasting longer than three hours since our rule was adopted," transportation secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "We appreciate the effort that the airlines are putting into making this new rule work effectively for the benefit of their passengers."
The news source reports that out of the 18 carriers that report these statistics, there have only been 12 delays that violate the time limit between May and October, down drastically from 2009's high of 546.
This record comes as good news for holiday travelers. When the airlines work hard to minimize delays, passengers are able to fly with less stress in a timely manner.
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