The US Department of Transportation has imposed a $2 million penalty on JetBlue Airways for delayed flights, marking the first time the department has taken such action against an airline for delays. The penalty includes a $1 million allocation to compensate JetBlue customers affected by delays or disruptions within the next year, with the remaining $1 million directed to the U.S. Treasury. The payment terms require $500,000 to be remitted within 60 days and the balance within one year of the initial payment.
The DOT has initiated investigations into other airlines for maintaining 'unrealistic flight schedules' that do not accurately reflect actual departure and arrival times. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the department's commitment to enforcing regulations against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices to uphold fair treatment of passengers and promote healthy competition in commercial aviation.
Under DOT guidelines, a flight is considered chronically delayed if it arrives more than 30 minutes late on over 50% of its flights, with cancellations also factored into the assessment. JetBlue was found to have operated four chronically delayed flights over 145 instances between June 2022 and November 2023, prompting the penalty. The airline was specifically cautioned about persistent delays on routes such as JFK to Raleigh-Durham and flights between Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Windsor Locks.
In response, a JetBlue spokesperson acknowledged the importance of punctuality for passengers and highlighted the airline's efforts to minimize delays, particularly amid challenges like air traffic control shortages. While the settlement addresses specific flight delays, JetBlue urged the government to prioritize modernizing the air traffic control system to enhance reliability and efficiency in air travel.
The latest DOT air travel consumer report revealed that 71.29% of JetBlue's flights were on time from January to September of the previous year, ranking the airline ninth among major U.S. carriers. Hawaiian Airlines led the rankings during the same period, with 82.69% of its flights operating on schedule.
The DOT has implemented enhanced passenger protections in recent years, including regulations mandating fee disclosure on airfares and automatic cash refunds for owed passengers. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Sean Duffy, a former congressman and Fox Business host, to head the department in the upcoming term. The DOT specified that future compensation for affected passengers will be set at a minimum of $75 per individual.
