---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 42304"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "42304"
heading: "Widespread disruptions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/42304"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part A — Air Commerce and Safety"
  - "Subpart ii — economic regulation"
  - "Chapter 423 — Passenger Air Service Improvements"
---

# §42304. Widespread disruptions

- (a) **General Requirements.—** In the event of a widespread disruption, a covered [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) shall immediately publish, via a prominent link on the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2)’s public internet website, a clear statement indicating whether, with respect to a passenger of the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) whose travel is interrupted as a result of the widespread disruption, the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) will—
  - (1) provide for hotel accommodations;
  - (2) arrange for ground transportation;
  - (3) provide meal vouchers;
  - (4) arrange for [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) on another [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) or [foreign air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-21) to the passenger’s destination; and
  - (5) provide for sleeping facilities inside the [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2), the interruption of all or the overwhelming majority of the [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2)’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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2).
  - (2) **Covered air carrier.—** The term “covered [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2)” means an [air carrier](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) that provides scheduled passenger [air transportation](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-5) by operating an [aircraft](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-6) 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](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-2) under section 42301.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title IV, § 428(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3341.)