USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Site Notification

Site Notification

U.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Department of Transportation IconUnited States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation
BTS> TranStats
transtats logo
 
Advanced Search
Resources
Data Finder
By Mode
By Subject
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
United441145331232
American321423221616
Delta185531499
Frontier17600110170
Mesa100100937
British80071008
Envoy Air60000615
JetBlue61301142
Southwest51002223
Virgin Atlantic50031105
Air Canada40030104
PSA32001030
SkyWest30002130
Alaska30012030
All Nippon30020103
Qatar30021003
Westjet20011002
Spirit21000120
Lufthansa German20010102
Republic Airline21001020
Sky Regional20010102
Jazz Aviation LP20010102
Taca International20000202
China Eastern20011002
Aerovias Nacl De Colombia20010102
Alis Cargo S.P.A.20002020
ExpressJet20000202
Scandinavian Sys.20011002
Air Serbia10100001
Caribbean Limited10010001
Compagnia Aerea Italiana10010001
Compagnie Nat'l Air France10010001
Compania Panamena (Copa)10000101
Endeavor Air11000010
Etihad10010001
Eva10001001
ExpressJet LLC d/b/a aha!11000010
GoJet LLC d/b/a United Express10000110
Hawaiian10100010
Japan Ltd.10000101
Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA10010001
Piedmont11000010
Singapore Ltd.10000101
Tap-Portuguese10000101
Transportes Aeros Meridiona10000101
XTRA10000101
Virgin America00000000
Trans States00000000
Klm Royal Dutch00000000
WOW Air ehf00000000
Air Europa00000000
British Plc00000000
Philippine00000000
All Airlines212221639389784128

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