.

There were only four ground delay of more than three hours reported in April. That marks a steep decline in such delays from previous months, and perhaps indicates airlines' efforts to guard against them ahead for new federal penalties that went into effect on April 29.

As part of those new penalties, the Department of Transportation can fine airlines up to $27,500 per passenger for each flight delayed on the ground for more than three hours. In light of that, several airline CEOs subsequently went on record to say they would adjust their carriers' policies to prevent long ground delays since fines cold total up to millions of dollars for a single flight.

The Associated Press notes that "only four planes were stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours" in April, the latest month for which statistics are available from the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. AP says that's "down from 25 in March and 81 in April 2009. One flight, an American Airlines jet from Atlanta to Miami, was stuck for more than four hours." Read article >>

Source : http://travel.usatoday.com