Photo: Sandi Smolker / iStock Editorial / Getty Images
The Transportation Department filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines in California, alleging that the airline operated chronically delayed flights and disrupted passengers' travel plans.
Southwest Airlines operated two chronically delayed flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and Oakland, California, and between Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio, resulting in 180 flight disruptions for passengers between April and August 2022.
Southwest Airlines responded by stating that since the Chronically Delayed Flight (CDF) policy was issued in 2009, they have operated more than 20 million flights with no other violations and led the industry in completing more than 99% of flights without cancellation in 2024.
The Transportation Department fined Frontier Airlines $650,000 in civil penalties, with $325,000 to be paid to the U.S. Treasury and the remaining $325,000 to be suspended if the carrier does not operate any chronically delayed flights in the next three years.
The Transportation Department's increased scrutiny of airlines' on-time performance comes after a series of incidents involving Southwest Airlines, including flying at very low altitudes while still miles away from an airport, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to adjust oversight based on risk.
Source: WFTV/Associated Press
Click Here To Listen Live https://www.iheart.com/live/news-radio-wtam-1100-17
