The U.S. Transportation Department is taking a firm stance against persistent flight delays, recently filing a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines and imposing fines on Frontier Airlines. The department's lawsuit, filed in California, alleges that Southwest operated chronically delayed flights, causing disruptions to passengers' travel plans. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that airlines have a legal obligation to provide realistic departure and arrival times for travelers.
The investigation revealed that Southwest operated two chronically delayed flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and Oakland, California, and Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio. These flights experienced delays for five consecutive months, resulting in 180 disruptions for passengers between April and August 2022.
In response, Southwest expressed disappointment in the agency's focus on past flights and highlighted its overall performance record. The airline pointed out that since the implementation of the Chronically Delayed Flight policy in 2009, it has operated over 20 million flights with no other violations. Southwest emphasized its industry-leading performance in completing over 99% of flights without cancellations in 2024.
Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, was fined $650,000 in civil penalties, with a portion suspended contingent on the carrier avoiding chronically delayed flights in the next three years. The airline chose not to comment on the fine.
This enforcement action follows the recent $2 million fine imposed on JetBlue for chronic delays, marking the first penalty for lateness on specific routes. The Transportation Department cited JetBlue's unrealistic scheduling practices. JetBlue, in response, shifted some blame to the government, highlighting the role of air traffic control in flight delays.
According to aviation-data provider Cirium, Southwest ranked fifth among North American airlines for on-time performance, with approximately 77.8% of arrivals and just under 77% of departures occurring on time last year. In comparison, Delta Air Lines led the rankings with 83.5% of arrivals and 83.7% of departures being punctual.
Last year, federal regulators increased scrutiny on Southwest Airlines following safety incidents, including flying at low altitudes far from airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed the need to ensure the carrier's compliance with safety regulations, adjusting oversight based on risk factors.
