You might recall a few years ago, the government issued something called the “tarmac-delay rule.” Well, the reports are in, and it seems to be working.

Back in 2010, a rule went into effect that prohibits airlines from sitting on the tarmac for more than three hours, unless it’s a safety or security issue.

They also require that the airlines supply adequate food, water, and bathroom access within two hours. It not, they’re fined.

You’d think this is common sense, but there were several situations when planes sat on the ground for hours.

Do you remember Valentine’s Day in 2007? That’s when a JetBlue flight kept passengers stuck on the tarmac for 11 hours.

The latest reports show that 2014 was the lowest year on record for tarmac delays.

Domestically, there were 30 tarmac delays of 3 hours or more. Compare that to 2009, when the number was well over 800.

We all had concerns that we’d end up seeing a spike in cancellations, with the airlines preemptively canceling flights just to avoid being fined. But that hasn’t been the case, and it’s very good news for travelers.

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