Landed vs Arrived: What's the Difference?
“Landed” means the aircraft has touched down on the runway. “Arrived” usually means it has reached its gate or stand. The gap can be 5 to 30 minutes, which matters if you are waiting for someone.
What each means
Landed is recorded at touchdown. After landing the aircraft may need to taxi a long way, wait for a free gate, or park on the apron where passengers get off by stairs or bus.
Arrived is recorded when the aircraft is at the gate or stopped on the stand. Some airlines count “arrived” when the parking brake is set; others when the door opens.
After arrival: what else takes time
- Disembarking, which can take 10 to 20 minutes on a full aircraft.
- Immigration, for international arrivals.
- Baggage reclaim.
- Customs, and walking to the arrivals hall.
On an international flight to Pakistan it can be an hour or more between landing and meeting someone outside. See how to handle airport pickup and the airport arrival checklist.
On a live tracker
On a tracker like this one, “on the ground” means the aircraft has landed and is on the runway or taxiways. It does not mean passengers have left.
General information only, not legal or safety advice. Details change; check with your airline and the relevant authority. See our editorial policy.