Air India Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan
- Passengers shall have the option to deplane an aircraft when there is an excessive tarmac delay (that is, a delay exceeding four hours in duration) with the following exceptions:
- For departing flights, when the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point no later than four hours after the main aircraft door is closed in order to deplane passengers. If the aircraft is in an area that is 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. 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 maneuvering the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point; or
- 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; or
- 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 potable water no later than 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 notify the passengers on board its aircraft during a tarmac delay regarding the status of the delay when the tarmac delay exceeds 30 minutes.
- Air India will notify passengers on board the aircraft that passengers have the opportunity to deplane each time the opportunity to deplane exists 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 U.S. airport that Air India serves, as well as Air India’s regular U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. airport that Air India serves, including diversion airports.
