Table 2 Monthly Summary of Tarmac Times Oct 2008 - Feb 2010
Number and Percent of Flights with Tarmac
Times of 3 Hours or More
For an explanation of the new reports, see
New Tarmac Time Data Q&A
| Number of Regularly Scheduled Flights | Tarmac Times of 3 Hours or Longer | Stage of Operation of the 3-Hour Tarmac Time | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Percent | Prior to Cancellation | Multiple Gate Departure | Taxi-Out | Taxi-In | At Diversion Airport | ||
| 2010 | ||||||||
| Feb 2010 | 481,988 | 61 | 0.01 | 5 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2010 | 521,809 | 21 | 0.00 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| 2009 | ||||||||
| Dec 2009 | 529,269 | 35 | 0.01 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 0 | 5 |
| Nov 2009 | 509,540 | 4 | 0.00 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 2009 | 531,799 | 12 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2009 | 510,852 | 6 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Aug 2009 | 568,301 | 70 | 0.01 | 7 | 11 | 45 | 0 | 7 |
| Jul 2009 | 580,134 | 164 | 0.03 | 21 | 20 | 105 | 0 | 18 |
| Jun 2009 | 557,594 | 278 | 0.05 | 40 | 42 | 172 | 1 | 23 |
| May 2009 | 546,832 | 35 | 0.01 | 7 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 2009 | 537,793 | 81 | 0.02 | 12 | 10 | 47 | 0 | 12 |
| Mar 2009 | 557,422 | 88 | 0.02 | 6 | 9 | 66 | 0 | 7 |
| Feb 2009 | 488,410 | 43 | 0.01 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2009* | 532,339 | 87 | 0.02 | 7 | 10 | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Total | 6,450,285 | 903 | 0.18 | 110 | 112 | 604 | 2 | 75 |
| 2008 | ||||||||
| Dec 2008 | 544,956 | 187 | 0.03 | 40 | 14 | 116 | 7 | 10 |
| Nov 2008 | 523,272 | 7 | 0.00 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Oct 2008 | 556,205 | 49 | 0.01 | 2 | 6 | 35 | 0 | 6 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
* Includes one flight with two separate three-hour tarmac times. Northwest Flight 1491 on Jan. 28 was on the tarmac for 188 minutes before returning to the gate. The flight departed the gate a second time and was on the tarmac for 199 minutes before wheels-off. Details of the flight are listed as a three-hour Multiple Gate Departure and a three-hour Taxi-out. Table 12 of the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report lists number of flights with three-hour tarmac times and counts NW Flight 1491 as a single flight.
Explanation of Stage of Operation
Prior to Cancellation: Flight left the gate but was canceled at
the origin airport
Multiple Gate Departure: Flight left the
gate, then returned and then left again to resume normal operation. Tarmac time is the time before the return
to the gate.
Taxi-out: The time between gate departure and
wheels-off
Taxi-in: The time between wheels-on and gate
arrival
At Diversion Airport: The tarmac time at the
alternate airport