Transportation Department Seeks Maximum Civil Penalties Against Carrier

The Transportation Department has upheld its commitment to punish airlines for persistent travel disruptions by suing Southwest Airlines and issuing a fine against Frontier Airlines. If all goes to plan, Southwest will face maximum civil penalties for its ‘chronic’ delays.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court of California on January 15, points to Southwest operating chronically delayed flights on two specific routes throughout 2022. It seeks upwards of $2.1 million in civil penalties as payback for its disruption to passengers' travel plans.

The routes listed were Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Oakland International Airport (OAK) as well as Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). They were allegedly chronically delayed between April and August 2022, resulting in 180 flight disruptions.

“Airlines have a legal obligation to ensure that their flight schedules provide travelers with realistic departure and arrival times," stated Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today’s action sends a message to all airlines that the department is prepared to go to court to enforce passenger protections.”

While the lawsuit does send a message, it seems to be three years too late. Southwest was quick to point out its long-term and recent records, stating that it “led the industry by completing more than 99% of its flights without cancellation” in 2024.

“Since DOT issued its Chronically Delayed Flight (CDF) policy in 2009, Southwest has operated more than 20 million flights with no other CDF violations,” it commented. “Any claim that these two flights represent an unrealistic schedule is simply not credible when compared with our performance over the past 15 years.”

Frontier Airlines is also under fire from the Transportation Department, facing $650,000 in civil penalties. Half will be paid to the US Treasury, with the other half to be suspended depending on its performance over the next three years.

FMI: www.transportation.gov