Originally Posted by fastair

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1261...o&mod=yahoo_hs

DoT is saying in 120 days, $27,500 fine per passenger for being on tarmac over 3 hours.

The simple solution is to cncl the flight after 2 hours, to ensure enough time to return to a gate to avoid the fine. Which is worse..I guess that depends on your need to get somewhere. Those that need to get places will regret this, those who think that airlines do it on purpose will think it is a good measure.

Crews will be less likely to pull out of the gate in hopes of getting a takeoff slot as well, adding to delays and cncls also.

Also, gates will not become available as often in bad wx, resulting in longer "penalty box" waits.

Originally Posted by swag

The size of the fine is absurd, for a 100 pax MD80 or 737, that's $2.7 million. And as another poster noted, the pax get nothing. There's no room for a jusgement call (next in line to go). And finally, once the 3 hour mark has passed, there's no incentive for the airline to get the plane off the tarmac - the penalty for 4 hours is the same as for 14 hours.

I think a simpler and better solution would be $100 per passenger per hour (over 3 hours), paid to the passengers. The airlines are still incented to avoid long tarmac delays, but might opt to pay $10K ($100x100), rather than incur the cost of a cancellation or gate return, if they really believe that the plane can take off soon. And for the pax who do get stuck for 8 hours, getting $500 cash in the pocket would go a long way towards alleviating the discomfort.