Notifications

Tarmac delay contingency

Scandinavian Airlines System’s Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays describes what SAS will implement during a lengthy tarmac delay.

SAS’s goal is to make every flight a safe and pleasant experience for our customers. SAS’s Plan will be activated during times when customers on these flights are experiencing tarmac irregular operations involving a lengthy tarmac delay. In most cases the cause of lengthy tarmac delays is outside of SAS’s reasonable control (e.g., weather events, inefficiencies of today’s air traffic control (ATC) systems, government operating restrictions, and airport construction projects). There also may be times when unanticipated flights delays may occur due to airline operations, but no matter what the cause, SAS commits to implement measures under this Plan.

Tarmac delays: Summary

Consistent with DOT regulations, SAS’s Plan covers all SAS scheduled and public charter flights operated to and from the US With respect to SAS codeshare flights operated by another carrier that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, the tarmac delay contingency plan of the operating carrier governs as provided for in SAS’s Conditions of Carriage.

This SAS Plan is adopted for all scheduled and public charter flights operated to and from the United States.

  • For all flights covered by this Plan that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, SAS will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at a U.S. airport for more than four hours before allowing travelers to deplane, unless: (i) The pilot-in-command determines there is a safety-related or security-related reason why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane travelers; or (ii) Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to a gate or another disembarkation point elsewhere in order to deplane travelers would significantly disrupt airport operations.

  • For all flights covered by this Plan, SAS will provide adequate food and potable water no later than two hours after the aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of departure) or touches down (in the case of arrival) if the aircraft remains on the tarmac, unless the pi-lot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.
    For all flights covered by this Plan, SAS will provide operable lavatory facilities, as well as adequate medical attention if needed, while the aircraft remains on the tarmac.

  • For all flights covered by this Plan, SAS will ensure that travelers on the delayed flight receive notification regarding the status of the delay every 30 minutes while the aircraft is delayed, including the reasons for the tarmac delay, if known.

  • For all flights covered by this Plan, SAS will notify travelers on the delayed flight beginning 30 minutes after the scheduled departure time (including any revised departure time that travelers were notified about before boarding), and every 30 minutes thereafter, that they have the opportunity to deplane from the aircraft if it is at the departure gate or at another disembarkation area with the door open if the opportunity to deplane actually exists.

  • SAS has sufficient resources to implement this Plan, when necessary.

  • SAS has coordinated this Plan with airport authorities (including terminal facilities operators, where applicable) at all U.S. airports that SAS serves, including regular U.S. diversion airports.

  • SAS has coordinated this Plan with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each U.S. airport that SAS serves regularly, including regular U.S. diversion airports.

Consistent with Canadian Transport Agency’s regulations, SAS’s Plan covers all SAS scheduled and public charter flights operated to and from Canada. With respect to SAS codeshare flights operated by another carrier that depart from or arrive at a Canadian airport, the tarmac delay contingency plan of the operating carrier governs as provided for in SAS’s Conditions of Carriage.

SAS will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac at a Canadian airport for more than three hours (or 3 hours and 45 minutes if departure is imminent) before allowing travelers to disembark, unless: i) it is impossible to disembark, including for reasons related to situations outside the control of the operating carrier (such as, but not limited to, safety and security reasons, air traffic or customs control).

During a tarmac delay, SAS will provide travelers with the following, unless it is impossible for reasons related to situations outside our control (such as, but not limited to, safety and security, or air traffic or customs control):

  • Access to operable lavatory facilities.

  • Proper ventilation and cooling or heating of the aircraft;

  • Food and drink, in reasonable quantities, taking into account the length of the delay, the time of day and the location of the airport.

  • The possibility to communicate with people outside the aircraft, if feasible; and

  • If needed, SAS will also ensure that adequate medical attention is available.

During a tarmac delay, travelers will receive notifications every 30 minutes regarding the status of the tarmac delay. The operating carrier will also share information about the reason for the delay, if known. During long tarmac delays, the pilot will do its best to provide travelers with updated information and ensure that the tarmac delay becomes as short as possible by coordinating with involved parties.