The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for flight delays, marking the first time the department has fined an airline for delays.
The DOT said $1 million of the fine will be paid over the next year to JetBlue customers affected by the delays and disruptions. The other half will be sent directly to the U.S. Treasury, with $500,000 to be paid within 60 days of the first payment and the other half within one year. The ministry said it was also investigating other airlines for “unrealistic flight schedules” that did not reflect actual flight departure and arrival times.
“To protect healthy competition in the commercial aviation industry and ensure that passengers are treated fairly, the Department will take action against airlines that engage in chronic delays and unrealistic scheduling,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. We will enforce the law.”
Under DOT rules, a flight is chronically delayed if you fly at least 10 times a month and arrive more than 30 minutes late 50% or more of the time. Cancellations are also included as a delay in the DOT calculation.
The DOT determined that JetBlue operated at least 145 four chronically delayed flights between June 2022 and November 2023, with each flight delayed for more than five consecutive months. The department warned JetBlue of chronic delays, particularly on flights between John F. It continued to operate three more chronically delayed flights to Orlando, Florida. Windsor Locks, Florida and Connecticut
A JetBlue spokesperson said in a statement that the airline recognizes how important it is for passengers to reach their destinations on time and is working hard to keep its flights on schedule. The company said it has invested “tens of millions of dollars” over the past two years to reduce delays, particularly those related to air traffic control deficiencies and challenges in the Northeast and Florida.
“While we have reached a settlement to resolve this issue for four flights in 2022 and 2023, accountability for reliable air travel equally lies with the U.S. government, which operates our nation's air traffic control system. “We are thinking about it,” the statement said. “We believe the United States should have the safest, most efficient, and advanced air traffic control system in the world, reducing controller delays that impact millions of people. We urge the incoming administration to prioritize modernizing outdated ATC technology and addressing chronic air traffic controller staffing shortages to increase the proportion of air travelers each year. ”
In the latest DOT Air Travel Consumer Report from January to September of last year, 71.29% of JetBlue's flights arrived on time, ranking it ninth out of the 10 largest U.S. airlines. Hawaiian Airlines ran 82.69% of its flights on time during the same period, ranking first among reported airlines.
The DOT has strengthened passenger protections in recent years, including new rules requiring airlines to disclose airfare prices and automatically issuing cash refunds for unpaid flights. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy to lead the department.
According to the DOT, future compensation will be a minimum of $75 per passenger affected.
