Passengers To Be Compensated Now And In Future

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has penalized JetBlue Airways for “operating multiple chronically delayed flights.” It is the first time DOT has imposed a fine on any airline for consistently delaying flights, labeling it a “prohibited unrealistic scheduling practice which can harm both passengers and fair competition across the industry.”

The DOT has ordered JetBlue to stop chronic flight delays and to pay $1 million to the U.S. Treasury and the other $1 million to passengers who have been impacted by the chronic delays as well as future flight delays of three hours or more within the next year.

DOT’s order says compensation must be valued at a minimum of $75 per impacted passenger.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement, "Today's action puts the entire airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality. The department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or other unrealistic scheduling practices in order to protect healthy competition in commercial aviation and ensure passengers are treated fairly."

Flights operated at least 10 times per month that arrive more than 30 minutes late more than half the time are considered chronically delayed. If such delays occur more than four continuous months it is considered ‘unrealistic scheduling.”

A DOT investigation showed that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. Each of them were delayed for five straight months and there were a total of 395 delays or cancellations across the four flights.

FMI:  www.transportation.gov/