機坪延誤應變計劃

Effective July 2021

Flights Experiencing a Lengthy Tarmac Delay at a U.S. Airport

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Enhanced Protections for Airline Passengers regulations (14 CFR Part 259), United Airlines ("United”) adopted this Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays ("Plan”). In the unusual event that a delay covered by Part 259.4 occurs on a flight operated by United, the following applies:

  1. United will make decisions using its core4 service standards: Safe, Caring, Dependable and Efficient.
  2. Passengers shall have the option to deplane an aircraft when there is an excessive tarmac delay (three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights) with the following exceptions:
    1. For departing flights, when the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point no later than three hours (for domestic flights) or four hours (for international flights) 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
    2. 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
    3. Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.
  3. United 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.
  4. United will provide operable lavatory facilities, maintain comfortable cabin temperatures, and ensure adequate medical attention if needed, during the tarmac delay.
  5. United 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.
  6. United 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.
  7. United has sufficient resources to implement this Plan.
  8. United has coordinated this Plan with airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each U.S. airport that United serves, as well as United’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.
  9. United has coordinated this Plan with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at each airport that United regularly uses for international flights, including diversion airports.
  10. United has coordinated this Plan with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each U.S. airport that United serves, including diversion airports.

Note: As specified in United’s contract of carriage, the tarmac delay contingency plan of the operating carrier, if not United, governs when such carrier is operating a flight on which the United (UA) code is displayed or marketed.