Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60

§42304 Widespread Disruptions

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part A— AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart ii— economic regulation › Chapter 423— PASSENGER AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS › § 42304

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

A covered air carrier must immediately post a clear notice on a prominent link of its public website saying whether, for passengers whose travel is interrupted by a widespread disruption, it will provide hotel rooms, arrange ground transportation, give meal vouchers, rebook travel on another carrier to reach the passenger’s destination, or offer places to sleep inside the airport terminal. Widespread disruption means a failure of one or more computer systems or networks that interrupts most or all of the carrier’s systemwide flights, including delays and cancellations. Covered air carrier means one that runs scheduled passenger flights on planes originally made for 30 or more seats. This does not change other duties under section 42301.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §42304

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In the event of a widespread disruption, a covered air carrier shall immediately publish, via a prominent link on the air carrier’s public internet website, a clear statement indicating whether, with respect to a passenger of the air carrier whose travel is interrupted as a result of the widespread disruption, the air carrier will—

(1)provide for hotel accommodations;

(2)arrange for ground transportation;

(3)provide meal vouchers;

(4)arrange for air transportation on another air carrier or foreign air carrier to the passenger’s destination; and

(5)provide for sleeping facilities inside the airport terminal.

(b)In this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)The term “widespread disruption” means, with respect to a covered air carrier, the interruption of all or the overwhelming majority of the air carrier’s systemwide flight operations, including flight delays and cancellations, as the result of the failure of 1 or more computer systems or computer networks of the air carrier.

(2)The term “covered air carrier” means an air carrier that provides scheduled passenger air transportation by operating an aircraft that as originally designed has a passenger capacity of 30 or more seats.

(c)Nothing in this section may be construed to modify, abridge, or repeal any obligation of an air carrier under section 42301.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 42304

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60