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U.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Department of Transportation IconUnited States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation
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
United892215815294841
Delta8475416256420
American77247332116314
Alaska1744423170
Republic Airline1593021141
Endeavor Air14122000140
SkyWest1374011130
JetBlue1218003120
Mesa110213565
Spirit92016090
ExpressJet LLC d/b/a aha!86100180
Southwest71103270
CommuteAir LLC dba CommuteAir63300060
British Airways Plc50050005
Trans States54100050
China Eastern40130004
Envoy Air41000313
Jazz Aviation LP30010203
Compagnia Aerea Italiana30030003
Emirates30030003
Taca International30020103
Qatar Airways (Q.C.S.C)20010102
PSA21100020
Compagnie Natl Air France20011002
Sky Regional20011002
Korean Ltd.20020002
All Nippon Airways20001102
Piedmont22000020
Air China20200002
Scandinavian Sys.20020002
Etihad Airways20020002
Virgin Atlantic Airways20000202
Aerovias Nacl De Colombia20020002
Air Canada20010102
Air Wisconsin Corp21001020
JetBlue Airways20001102
Horizon Air10000110
Frontier10001010
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.10010001
China Ltd.10000101
Eurowings GmbH10000101
Caribbean Limited10010001
GoJet LLC d/b/a United Express10000110
Allegiant Air10001010
Japan Ltd.10010001
Aeromexico10000101
Alis Cargo S.P.A.10010010
Austrian10010001
El Al Israel Ltd.10000101
Peninsula00000000
National Aviation Company of India Limited d/b/a A00000000
Empire00000000
Asiana00000000
Compass00000000
Hawaiian00000000
All Airlines435107109677379298137

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