U.S. Authorities Fines Frontier, Sues Southwest Over Chronically Delayed Flights

Two well-liked low-cost airways are the most recent to be held accountable by the U.S. authorities over chronically late flights.

Southwest Airways and Frontier Airways are each dealing with authorized actions by the Division of Transportation for working flight schedules the federal government says had been notoriously late.

Frontier Airways operated delayed flights between Atlanta and Phoenix, and Orlando and Houston over 63 instances, and the airline shall be answerable for a $650,000 civil penalty effective, with the chance for half of the effective to be waived if the airline doesn’t function chronically delayed flights over the following three years, in keeping with the consent order. 

The company investigated Southwest Airways and located two routes had been delayed a complete of 180 instances over the span of 5 months, in keeping with a information launch, with the division pursuing civil penalties towards the corporate.

“Airways have a authorized obligation to make sure that their flight schedules present vacationers with practical departure and arrival instances,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated within the launch. As we speak’s motion sends a message to all airways that the Division is ready to go to courtroom with a view to implement passenger protections.”

The company has beforehand inspired passengers affected by delays or cancellations to go to FlightRights.gov to determine potential resolutions and cures for his or her circumstances.

For its half, Southwest Airways says the delays occurred in earlier years they usually have since up to date their scheduling. 

“Southwest is dissatisfied that DOT selected to file a lawsuit over two flights that occurred greater than two years in the past,” a Southwest Airways spokesperson shared with Journey + Leisure. “Since DOT issued its Chronically Delayed Flight (CDF) coverage in 2009, Southwest has operated greater than 20 million flights with no different CDF violations. Any declare that these two flights symbolize an unrealistic schedule is just not credible compared with our efficiency over the previous 15 years.” 

The airline additionally added that all through 2024, they maintained a 99% completion charges of flights with out cancellation.

Frontier Airways declined to remark when requested by T+L. 

The effective and lawsuit introduced this week are the most recent of actions by the Division of Transportation towards airways that function chronically late flights. Earlier this month, JetBlue was fined $2 million for delayed flights, which included reimbursements to passengers