Tarmac delay contingency plan

 

1.2 INTRODUCTION

The aim of Aerolineas Argentinas is to make every flight a safe and pleasant experience and further enhance customer comfort on the Ground and in the air. The Aerolineas Argentinas' Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays is another step to reach this goal.

This Contingency Plan has been developed to reflect our commitment as a full-service premium carrier and to provide our passengers with clear information about what they can expect from us, particularly during occasional irregular operations. The Contingency Plan contains specific commitments which will allow us to act promptly to meet our customer's need and expectations.

1.2.2 CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR LENGHTY TARMAC DELAYS

This Contingency Plan is adopted for the departure or arrival of international flights at covered U.S. airports operated with an aircraft equal to or greater than 30 passenger seats by Aerolineas Argentinas. This Contingency Plan is subject to change without notice and is separate from and does not form part of Aerolineas Argentinas' Contract of Carriage.

Aerolineas Argentinas' Commitment to its Customers:
For international flights covered by this Contingency Plan, Aerolineas Argentinas will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than four hours and not return it to the gate, or another suitable disembarkation point, where passengers will be allowed to deplane.

Delays longer than four hours may be necessary if there are safety-related or security-related restrictions or air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or permitting passengers to disembark elsewhere would significantly disrupt airport operations.

This plan ensures that Aerolineas Argentinas will meet or exceed specified guidance as it pertains to provisioning, as follows: adequate food and potable water no later than two hours after the aircraft leaves the gate (in the case of departure) or touches down (in the case of an arrival), as well as operable lavatory facilities, medical attention, and other customer comfort needs; unless the pilot-in-command determines that the commencement of service would lead to further delays or missed opportunities for departure.

Aerolineas Argentinas has sufficient resources to implement this Contingency Plan.

259.4(b)(5) For all flights, assurance that the passengers on the delayed flight will receive notifications regarding the status of the delay every 30 minutes while the aircraft is delayed, including the reasons for the tarmac delay, if known;

* 259.4(b)(6) For all flights, assurance that the passengers on the delayed flight will be notified beginning 30 minutes after scheduled departure time (including any revised departure time that passengers were notified about before boarding) and every 30 minutes thereafter that they have the opportunity to deplane from an aircraft that is at the gate or another disembarkation area with the door open if the opportunity to deplane actually exists;

* 259.4(b)(8) Assurance that the plan has been coordinated with airport authorities (including terminal facility operators where applicable) at each U.S. large hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that the carrier serves, as well as its regular U.S. diversion airports;

* 259.4(b)(9) Assurance that the plan has been coordinated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at each large U.S. hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that is regularly used for that carrier's international flights, including diversion airports; and

* 259.4(b)(10) Assurance that the plan has been coordinated with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at each U.S. large hub airport, medium hub airport, small hub airport and non-hub airport that the carrier serves, including diversion airports.