Southwest Airlines is being sued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) over chronic flight delays, while Frontier Airlines has been fined $650,000 due to similar issues. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that Southwest operated two “chronically delayed” services between April and August 2022, resulting in 180 flight disruptions for passengers.
The investigation found that the flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Oakland, California, and Baltimore, Maryland to Cleveland, Ohio, were both chronically delayed for five straight months. The DOT is seeking maximum penalties against Southwest, citing a legal obligation to ensure realistic departure and arrival times.
Southwest’s spokesperson, Lynn Lunsford, said the airline had kept an open dialogue with the DOT and invited discussions about a reasonable settlement. However, she expressed disappointment that the agency chose to file a lawsuit over flights that occurred more than two years ago.
The fine for Frontier Airlines is $325,000, with $325,000 suspended if the carrier does not operate any chronically delayed flights in the next three years. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the action sends a message to all airlines to enforce passenger protections and uphold realistic departure and arrival times.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/16/southwest-airlines-sued-us-frontier-flight-delays