U.S. Sues Southwest Airlines Over Chronically Delayed Flights, Also Fines Frontier and JetBlue

Jan 15, 2025, 08:30 PM

The U.S. Department of Transportation has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines for allegedly operating 'chronically delayed flights' that disrupted passengers' travel plans. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in California, seeks maximum civil penalties. The Department's investigation revealed that Southwest operated two flights that were chronically delayed for five consecutive months, resulting in 180 flight disruptions between April and August 2022. These flights operated between Chicago Midway International Airport and Oakland, California, and between Baltimore, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, the Department fined Frontier Airlines $650,000 for similar issues, with $325,000 to be paid immediately and the remainder suspended if the airline avoids further violations for three years. This action follows a recent $2 million fine imposed on JetBlue for chronic delays.