Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§42304 Widespread Disruptions

Title 49 › SUBTITLE VII — AVIATION PROGRAMS › PART A — AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › subpart ii — economic regulation › CHAPTER 423 — PASSENGER AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS › § 42304

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Airlines must immediately post a clear notice in a prominent spot on their public website when a computer failure causes a widespread disruption. The notice must say whether the airline will provide hotel rooms, arrange ground transport, give meal vouchers, rebook passengers on another carrier, or let people sleep inside the airport. Widespread disruption means all or most flights are stopped because one or more of the airline’s computer systems or networks failed. A covered air carrier is an airline that flies scheduled passengers on planes built to hold 30 or more seats. This does not change any airline duties under section 42301.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §42304

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General Requirements.—

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)Definitions.—

In this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)Widespread disruption.—

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)Covered air carrier.—

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)Savings Provision.—

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110