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US takes legal action against Southwest Airlines over chronically delayed flights

President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday took legal action against Southwest Airlines, accusing the carrier of unlawfully operating several chronically postponed flights and interrupting travelers' travel. The U.S. Transportation Department stated in its civil match in U.S. District Court in Northern California that the Texas-based air carrier had operated unrealistic schedules and must be required to pay optimum civil penalties. The Justice Department joined in the fit.

USDOT said that for 5 months in 2022, Southwest operated 2 chronically delayed flights: one in between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and another in between Baltimore and Cleveland.

Today's action sends out a message to all airline companies that the department is prepared to go to court in order to implement traveler securities, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated.

The department also said it was fining Frontier Airlines $ 650,000 for operating numerous chronically postponed flights. Frontier, which declined to comment, will pay $325,000. and need to pay the remainder if it operates any chronically. postponed flights in the next 3 years.

Southwest stated it was dissatisfied USDOT selected to sue over. two flights that happened more than two years back. Southwest. stated that given that 2009, the provider has run more than 20. million flights with no other infractions.

Any claim that these two flights represent an. unrealistic schedule is simply not reliable when compared to. our performance over the previous 15 years, Southwest stated. In. 2024, Southwest led the market by completing more than 99% of. its flights without cancellation.

Under USDOT rules, a flight is chronically postponed if it. is flown at least 10 times a month and shows up more than 30. minutes late a minimum of 50% of the time.

It was unclear whether President-elect Donald Trump's. incoming administration would pursue the suit.

Southwest in December 2023 agreed to provide $90 million. in travel coupons of $75 or more to guests postponed a minimum of. three hours getting to last locations because of an. airline-caused issue or cancellation, part of a USDOT settlement. over the carrier's December 2022 holiday disaster.

This month, USDOT enforced a $2 million charge on. JetBlue Airways for operating 4 chronically delayed. flights on domestic routes. It was initially such fine on an airline. for the forbidden scheduling practice.

JetBlue agreed to pay a $1 million fine and the. rest will go to compensate consumers. JetBlue consented to. provide coupons worth a minimum of $75 for travelers for. future flight cancellations or hold-ups of three hours or more. caused by the airline within the next year.

USDOT stated at different points in 2022 and 2023 JetBlue. run chronically delayed flights in between New York and. Raleigh-Durham, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando along with a flight. between Fort Lauderdale and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

USDOT last month looked for talk about whether it should. required money payment for lengthy hold-ups or cancellations. brought on by airline companies.

(source: Reuters)