DOT Final Rule on Airline Delay Reporting Takes Effect Oct. 19
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule implementing a statutory mandate to exclude ten specific event types from the 'Air Carrier' delay reporting code.
3 reports on this incident · first at Sep 3, 2026, 1:10 a.m. ET
Earlier reports
Sep 3, 2026, 1:22 a.m. ET
DOT Final Rule on Airline Delay Reporting Takes Effect Oct. 19
A final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will take effect on October 19, 2026, according to the Federal Register. The rule, published September 3, 2026, amends regulations governing how air carriers report the causes of flight cancellations and delays.
The action implements Section 511(b) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which requires that ten specific types of events be excluded from the "Air Carrier" causal reporting code—a code reserved for circumstances within the carrier's control. The final rule creates a new reporting category for these ten events, ensuring data reported to the Department and shared with the public reflects the statutory distinction between carrier-controllable events and the exclusions identified by Congress.
The rule was issued by the Transportation Department's Office of the Secretary and is identified as 2026-18040.
Sep 3, 2026, 1:10 a.m. ETFirst report
DOT Final Rule Excludes Ten Event Types from Air Carrier Delay Reporting Code
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule amending regulations on how air carriers report the causes of flight cancellations and delays. The rule, published September 3, 2026, implements Section 511(b) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which requires that ten specific types of events be excluded from the "Air Carrier" causal reporting code, a category reserved for circumstances within the carrier's control.
The final rule creates a new reporting category to capture these ten events, ensuring that data reported to the Department and shared with the public accurately reflects the statutory distinction between carrier-controllable events and the exclusions identified by Congress. The rule takes effect October 19, 2026.
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- Version 13 Sept 2026, 05:53current
First published.
- Version 13 Sept 2026, 05:22current
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- Version 13 Sept 2026, 05:10current
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