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BTS> TranStats
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International and Domestic Tarmac Times by Airline
Type:   Year:   Start Month: To:   Tarmac Min: Max:
Tarmac Home   Back
Data begins with August 2011. Data available through January 2024 Please limit search using dropdowns to a single calendar year.
This page has tarmac times for all domestic flights and all international flights to and from the United States (U.S. airports only). For tarmac times since 1995 for domestic flights operated by large airlines, see Domestic Tarmac Times
AirlineTarmac TimesStage of Operation Tarmac Flights
TotalPrior To CancellationMultiple Gate DepartureTaxi-OutTaxi-InAt Diversion AirportDomesticInternational
United28418015424
Southwest17000161170
Delta16101302016
US Airways82150026
American70220334
British63030006
Compagnie Nat'l Air France61023006
Scandinavian Sys.50050005
JetBlue40103013
Virgin Atlantic40030104
Aeromexico40013004
Jazz Aviation LP40020204
Taca International40000404
Lufthansa German30020103
Brussels N.V.30010203
Envoy Air30000303
Republic Airline22000020
Air Canada20000202
Air China20200002
Westjet21010002
Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA10010001
Korean Ltd.10001001
Japan Ltd.10010001
PSA10000101
China Eastern10000101
ExpressJet10000101
Jin Air Co Ltd.11000001
Spirit10000110
Frontier00000000
ExpressJet LLC d/b/a aha!00000000
China Southern00000000
Hawaiian00000000
Virgin America00000000
AirTran00000000
Alaska00000000
Concesionaria Vuela Compania De Aviacion SA de CV 00000000
SkyWest00000000
All Airlines13815750264030108

Note: Tarmac times for all flights by airlines reporting on-time data are available beginning with October 2008 data. From January 1995 through September 2008, airlines reporting on-time data reported only taxi-out and taxi-in times. Airlines currently reporting on-time data.

Note: Numbers found here may differ from those previously available on the BTS website and on the Air Travel Consumer Report. Beginning with the release of May 2010 data, lengthy tarmac times are measured as more than 3 hours (181 minutes plus). Previous releases used the measurement of 3 hours or more (180 minutes plus). 2-hour and 1-hour tarmac times have been changed to conform. Data from previous months on this application have been revised but may differ from the previously-released Air Travel Consumer Report Tables 11 and 12, which were not revised. Air Travel Consumer Report Tables 11 and 12, beginning with the release of May 2010 data in the July report, will reflect the change in measurement.

Note: Click on page headers, it will redirect to detail carrier summary of that specified link

Explanation of Stage of Operation
Prior to Cancellation: Flight left the gate but was cancelled 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


The number of reporting carriers has varied as follows:
1995: 10
1996: 10
1997: 10
1998: 10
1999: 10
2000: 10 (11 starting in November when Aloha Airlines started reporting for the first time)
2001: 12 (11 starting in November when Aloha Airlines ceased reporting for the first time)
2002: 10
2003: 17 (18 starting in November when Hawaiian Airlines started reporting)
2004: 19
2005: 20 (19 through April after which Frontier Airlines started reporting)
2006: 20 (19 through March after which Aloha Airlines started reporting for the second time)
2007: 20
2008: 19 (20 through February after which Aloha Airlines ceased reporting)
2009: 19
2010: 18
2011: 16

2012: 15
2013: 16
2014: 14
2015: 13 (14 through June after which American and US Airways began joint reporting)
2016: 12
2017: 12
2018: 17 (18 through March after which Alaska Airlines and Virgin America began joint reporting)
2019: 17
2020: 17
2021: 17