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49 USC § 42304 - Widespread disruptions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t49/s42304"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "49 USC § 42304 - Widespread disruptions"
title_number: 49
title_name: "TRANSPORTATION"
section_number: "42304"
section_name: "Widespread disruptions"
chapter_number: 423
chapter_name: "PASSENGER AIR SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title IV, § 428(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3341.)"
---

# § 42304. Widespread disruptions

**(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.

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