Long Tarmac Delay is defined as which situation?

• A. Extended Ground Delay
• B. Long Tarmac Delay
• C. Terminal-Access Delay
• D. 120-Minute Ground Wait

Answer: (B)

A long tarmac delay describes a situation where an aircraft is already on the ground and cannot depart or land for an extended period. The official threshold is three hours of ground delay for domestic flights (four hours for international flights). That duration is what triggers the designation of a long tarmac delay and the related passenger care procedures. The term itself exactly labels this prolonged on-aircraft delay, which is why it’s the best answer. Other options imply shorter delays or different on-ground scenarios and don’t use the established label for this extended situation.