The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is changing how airlines report the reasons for flight delays and cancellations, with the new rules taking effect on October 19.
The changes mean that 10 types of delays and cancellations will no longer be recorded as being caused by the airline. Instead, the DOT will create a separate category for these incidents.
The 10 exclusions include:
- Aircraft cleaning after the death of a passenger.
- Aircraft damage caused by extreme weather, foreign object debris, or sabotage.
- A baggage loading delay caused by an outage of a bag system not controlled by a carrier or its contractor.
- Cybersecurity attacks, as long as the airline is in compliance with cybersecurity regulations.
- A shutdown or system failure of government systems that directly affects the ability of an airline to safely conduct flights and is unexpected.
- Overheated brakes due to a safety incident resulting in the use of emergency procedures.
- Unscheduled maintenance, including in response to an airworthiness directive, manifesting outside a scheduled maintenance programme that cannot be deferred.
- An emergency that required medical attention through no fault of the carrier.
- The removal of an unruly passenger.
- An airport closure due to the presence of volcanic ash, wind, or wind shear.
Airlines have been required to report the reasons for cancellations and delays of 15 minutes or more since 2002. These are currently recorded under categories such as air carrier, extreme weather, the national aviation system, security, and late-arriving aircraft.
The DOT said the new system would make its delay and cancellation data more accurately reflect whether a disruption was within an airline’s control.
