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Tarmac Delay Plan

Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delays at U.S. Airports

For international flights that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, Condor Flugdienst GmbH has established a Contingency Plan for Lengthy Tarmac Delay. In the event that you are on a flight operated by one of Condor's codeshare partners, the tarmac delay contingency plan of the carrier operating your flight will apply in the event of a tarmac delay.

In the unlikely event of a lengthy onboard delay prior to takeoff or upon landing at either the destination or a diversion airport, our Operations Control Center will coordinate with the pilot-in-command, the local Airport Operations Team, and authorities at the airport to fulfill our plan. Onboard delays are situations which Condor always tries to avoid. However, sometimes weather, gate-space limitations, visibility, airport conditions, mechanical issues, Air Traffic Control requirements, or other uncontrollable circumstances cause unavoidable ground delays.

For international flights covered by this Plan that depart from or arrive at a U.S. airport, Condor Flugdienst GmbH will not permit an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than four hours before allowing passengers to deplane, unless:

  • For departing flights, the flight begins to return to a suitable disembarkation point no later than four hours after the main aircraft door is closed in order to deplane passengers.
    • If the aircraft is in an area that is not under the carrier's control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when a request is made to the Federal Aviation Administration control tower, airport authority, or other relevant authority directing the aircraft's operations.
    • If the aircraft is in an area that is under the carrier's control, the aircraft has begun to return to a suitable disembarkation point when the pilot begins maneuvering the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point.
  • The pilot-in-command determines that deplaning passengers at a suitable disembarkation point would jeopardize passenger safety or security, or there is a safety-related or security-related reason why the aircraft cannot leave its position on the tarmac to deplane passengers; or
  • Air traffic control advises the pilot-in-command that returning to the gate or another suitable disembarkation point in order to deplane passengers would significantly disrupt airport operations.

Passenger services during a lengthy onboard ground delay

For all flights, during a tarmac delay Condor Flugdienst GmbH will provide passengers with adequate food and potable water no later than two (2) hours after the start of the tarmac delay, unless the pilot-in-command determines that safety or security considerations preclude such service.

Each time the opportunity to deplane exists at a suitable disembarkation point, Condor Flugdienst GmbH will timely notify the passengers on board the aircraft that they have the opportunity to deplane.

For all flights, Condor Flugdienst GmbH will ensure that operable lavatory facilities will remain available during the tarmac delay. Condor Flugdienst GmbH will also ensure adequate medical attention is available, if needed, during the tarmac delay.

Condor Flugdienst GmbH will notify passengers on board the aircraft during a tarmac delay regarding the status of the delay when the tarmac delay exceeds 30 minutes, and thereafter will provide subsequent updates, including flight status changes, as the carrier deems appropriate.

Resources

Condor Flugdienst GmbH has taken steps to ensure that sufficient resources are available to implement this contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays, when necessary.

Coordination

Condor Flugdienst GmbH has coordinated this contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays with the local airport authorities, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for all applicable airports it serves as well as all applicable U.S. airports authorized by Condor Flugdienst GmbH in case of diversion.