Narrative:

Our crew was scheduled to fly from ZZZZ to ZZZ. We departed and departure time (out time) was verified on the company page of our FMC communications display. While awaiting take-off; we were informed that our release had expired. We returned to the ramp and contacted our dispatcher to coordinate a new destination. No aircraft doors were opened; no fuel was added; no maintenance was performed. Our dispatcher informed us that we were going to be replanned to either ZZZ1 or ZZZ2. Shortly thereafter our dispatcher informed us that our new destination was ZZZ1. ZZZZ station personnel informed us that we would not be able to obtain a clearance to either ZZZ1 or ZZZ2 because our company did not have route authority to either of those destinations from ZZZZ. We were informed that we would have to depart with a filed flight plan and clearance to ZZZ; and coordinate a diversion while enroute.while attempting to depart; our new release expired. Our dispatcher then informed us that we would be replanned to ZZZ2; but that we would still be departing with a filed flight plan and clearance to ZZZ followed by a diversion to ZZZ2. We subsequently departed ZZZZ believing that the plan was to proceed on our filed and cleared routing but to coordinate a diversion to ZZZ2 when in ZZZZ control airspace. Take-off from ZZZZ occurred and that take-off time (off time) was again verified on the company page of our FMC communications display. While enroute we were informed by our dispatcher that our ground time at ZZZZ had been changed by scheduling; and that we were legal to divert to ZZZ1 rather than ZZZ2. Diversion routing/clearance to ZZZ1 was accomplished with ZZZZ control.a later review of our sequence schedule showed that an arrival time (in time) had been entered for our flight at ZZZZ; followed by a second departure time (out time) 45 minutes later. This 45 minute ground interruption at ZZZZ appeared to have been entered in order to negate the expired ZZZZ-ZZZ1 release and allow us to divert to ZZZ1 instead of ZZZ2. In addition to the 45 minute ground interruption at ZZZZ; our sequence schedule also showed an unrealistic planned flight time from ZZZZ-ZZZ1; and a canceled flight from ZZZ2-ZZZ1. The flight continued to ZZZ1 and arrived uneventfully. Due to the scheduled long duty day; any delays in loading cargo into the aircraft can cause this to happen again. When we called for pushback at our scheduled departure time we were given a 20 minute gate hold. I don't believe the loading will take so long in the future. This cargo flight is incredibly efficient. Maybe the arrival time for ZZZZ could be a little earlier to help with loading cargo for a on-time departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier flight crew reported delays in complying with a mandatory OFF time.

Narrative: Our crew was scheduled to fly from ZZZZ to ZZZ. We departed and departure time (OUT time) was verified on the Company page of our FMC Communications display. While awaiting take-off; we were informed that our release had expired. We returned to the ramp and contacted our Dispatcher to coordinate a new destination. No aircraft doors were opened; no fuel was added; no maintenance was performed. Our Dispatcher informed us that we were going to be replanned to either ZZZ1 or ZZZ2. Shortly thereafter our Dispatcher informed us that our new destination was ZZZ1. ZZZZ station personnel informed us that we would not be able to obtain a clearance to either ZZZ1 or ZZZ2 because our company did not have route authority to either of those destinations from ZZZZ. We were informed that we would have to depart with a filed flight plan and clearance to ZZZ; and coordinate a diversion while enroute.While attempting to depart; our new release expired. Our Dispatcher then informed us that we would be replanned to ZZZ2; but that we would still be departing with a filed flight plan and clearance to ZZZ followed by a diversion to ZZZ2. We subsequently departed ZZZZ believing that the plan was to proceed on our filed and cleared routing but to coordinate a diversion to ZZZ2 when in ZZZZ Control airspace. Take-off from ZZZZ occurred and that take-off time (OFF time) was again verified on the Company page of our FMC Communications display. While enroute we were informed by our Dispatcher that our ground time at ZZZZ had been changed by Scheduling; and that we were legal to divert to ZZZ1 rather than ZZZ2. Diversion routing/clearance to ZZZ1 was accomplished with ZZZZ Control.A later review of our sequence schedule showed that an arrival time (IN time) had been entered for our flight at ZZZZ; followed by a second departure time (OUT time) 45 minutes later. This 45 minute ground interruption at ZZZZ appeared to have been entered in order to negate the expired ZZZZ-ZZZ1 release and allow us to divert to ZZZ1 instead of ZZZ2. In addition to the 45 minute ground interruption at ZZZZ; our sequence schedule also showed an unrealistic planned flight time from ZZZZ-ZZZ1; and a canceled flight from ZZZ2-ZZZ1. The flight continued to ZZZ1 and arrived uneventfully. Due to the scheduled long duty day; any delays in loading cargo into the aircraft can cause this to happen again. When we called for pushback at our scheduled departure time we were given a 20 minute gate hold. I don't believe the loading will take so long in the future. This cargo flight is incredibly efficient. Maybe the arrival time for ZZZZ could be a little earlier to help with loading cargo for a on-time departure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.