Widebody Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 204; Flight Crew Total 22800; Flight Crew Type 3192
Communication Breakdown; Fatigue
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Company Policy; Human Factors; Weather
The company intentionally circumvented a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR117). Because we were an international flight and there was no relief pilot scheduled (no augmentation) our maximum actual flight time was limited to 9 hours. There were thunderstorms in the departure corridor and many aircraft were waiting at the runway for takeoff. Also; there was in-trail spacing. If we were to pushback from the gate when we were ready; our 9 hour clock would start and we could potentially time-out while waiting at the runway. For this reason; ZZZ Operations held us at the gate with an updated pushback time of XA:30. When XA:30 approached we requested a push crew on Operations frequency. The response was that we were going to be held at the gate until XB:00. We then questioned the reason for the delayed push and were advised that ZZZ1 Operations had called and requested it because they feared that we would time out. I advised the Operations Center that we would accept no further delay for pushback. We pushed back at XA:35; we were originally scheduled for departure at XX:20. The artificial delay pushed the First Officer and myself deeper into our Window of Circadian Low (WOCL). I advised the [Chief Pilot] that I would file a [report]. The [Chief Pilot] replied that he checked in the ZZZ1 Operations Center and that no one admitted to making a phone call to ZZZ. My suspicion is that it was ZZZ Operations (not ZZZ1) who held us at the gate to prevent a potential cancellation. The initial delay from XX:20 to XA:00 was because of thunderstorms; lightning had forced a ramp closure and the delay could not be prevented. It was not until XA:30 that we became aware of being artificially held from XA:00 to XA:30 (with an additional potential delay until XB:00). The flight was successfully completed. We landed 2 hours and 16 minutes late in ZZZ2. We were both exhausted. NOTE: response from ZZZ Operations was that this was in fact a decision made by them.
Air carrier Captain reported company personnel delayed pushback to avoid an out of duty time situation.