Biden Administration Sues Southwest Airlines Over 180 Flight Disruptions and Maximum Civil Penalties

Jan 15, 2025, 09:21 PM

The Biden administration has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, alleging that the airline operated two chronically delayed flight routes that resulted in 180 disruptions. The U.S. Department of Transportation claims that Southwest violated regulations requiring airlines to establish and adhere to realistic flight schedules. The lawsuit, filed in California, seeks 'maximum civil penalties' against the airline. This legal action is part of a broader enforcement effort by the Transportation Department, which recently fined Frontier Airlines for similar issues. The affected routes include flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and Oakland, California, as well as between Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio.