Tarmac delay

How it is used

Use for a ground wait after boarding or after landing; it differs from waiting inside the terminal.

Example sentences

1. During the tarmac delay, the crew brought water through the cabin.

   Passengers remain on board while the aircraft cannot proceed normally.

2. We landed on time but faced a tarmac delay because no parking position was available.

   The term also applies after arrival, before passengers can get off.

Common collocations

• extended tarmac delay
• tarmac delay after landing

Related terms

• delayA situation in which a flight, train or other service leaves or arrives later than planned; as a verb it means to make something late.
• landOf a plane or its passengers: to arrive on the ground at the end of a flight.

More terms: Delays, Cancellations & Connections

• cancel
• connecting flight
• layover
• gate change
• missed connection
• rebook
• compensation
• overbooked
• transit
• ETA
• stopover
• self-transfer