Tarmac Delays

A Tarmac Delay is when your flight is ready to take off (and the doors of the aircraft are closed) or your flight has just landed (and the doors of the aircraft are closed), but you are kept waiting in the plane. We will do what we can to make you comfortable during a Tarmac Delay, including the following:

PAL will make all reasonable efforts to ensure your essential needs are met by providing you with access to working lavatories (where available), proper ventilation and heating or cooling, food and drink, and the ability to communicate with people outside the plane, when feasible (when there is no impact to safety). If you require urgent medical assistance during a tarmac delay, we will take all reasonable steps to facilitate access to medical assistance.

PAL will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours. Prior to reaching three hours, PAL will return the aircraft to the gate or another suitable disembarkation point, where passengers will be allowed to deplane. A plane can stay on the tarmac for up to 45 additional minutes if it is likely that it will take off within that period and we are able to continue providing the same Tarmac Delay Services, when feasible.

This short extension is to ensure that the plane can take off if there is a reasonable prospect of this occurring – so that you can reach your final destination without the inconvenience of further delay or flight cancellation.

If it is not likely that the plane can take off within the additional 45-minute window, the plane will return to the gate, unless it is prevented for reasons related to safety, security, customs control or air traffic control.

Depending on the circumstances, it may not be possible for PAL to allow you to disembark from the aircraft during a Tarmac Delay, for various reasons, including but not limited to concerns related to safety, security, or due to directions by Air Traffic Control or Customs Control.

If the plane returns to the gate for disembarking because of a tarmac delay, disembarking priority will be available to passengers with disabilities and their support person, service animal or emotional support animal, if any, upon request and when feasible.