Carrier Fined $115,000 For Violations By Mainline, Regional Operations

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) says it's not kidding about hitting airlines that fail to disclose on-time figures where it hurts the most -- as Delta Air Lines can attest.

On Monday, DOT assessed a civil penalty against Delta for failing to provide information on the on-time arrival performance of its flights when asked by consumers. The consent order is the third this year against airlines for failing to provide on-time performance information as required by DOT rules.

Delta was ordered to cease and desist from further violations... and was assessed a civil penalty of $115,000. The action follows similar actions on October 3 against Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways. As ANN reported, Hawaiian was assessed a civil penalty of $50,000 and JetBlue was assessed a $30,000 civil penalty.

"An important part of our effort to minimize the impact of flight delays on consumers is making sure they have the best available information about delays," US Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said. "As we take new steps to reduce delays and improve air travel for passengers, we will make sure airlines comply with existing consumer rules."

Airlines that report on-time performance to DOT -- currently 20 large passenger carriers -- must provide on-time arrival statistics when requested by passengers.

After receiving information that some carriers were failing to provide consumers on-time arrival information of flights, the Enforcement Office launched an investigation that involved several hundred test calls to the reporting carriers.

The Delta order also covers violations by several Delta Connection carriers -- Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines and SkyWest Airlines -- for which Delta provides reservation services. The Enforcement Office is continuing to investigate other carriers.

FMI: www.regulations.gov (docket number 26781), www.delta.com, www.dot.gov