United Airlines, Inc. Order 2016-1-2

About this Order

This consent order concerns violations by United Airlines, Inc., ("United") of 14 CFR Part 259, the Department’s tarmac delay rule; 49 U.S.C. § 42301, which requires adherence to a carrier’s emergency contingency plan; and 49 U.S.C. § 41712, which prohibits unfair and deceptive practices. Specifically, the carrier violated the Department’s tarmac delay rule by failing to adhere to the assurances in its contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays that the carrier would not allow an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights before providing passengers an opportunity to deplane. This order directs United to cease and desist from future similar violations of 14 CFR Part 259 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 42301 and 41712 and assesses the carrier $750,000 in civil penalties.