JetBlue Airways has been fined $2 million by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) after a federal investigation found that it was operating multiple chronically delayed flights. This is the first time the DOT has imposed a penalty on an airline for consistently delaying flights.
The government criticized JetBlue’s practice, calling it “a prohibited unrealistic scheduling practice which can harm both passengers and fair competition across the airline industry.” The DOT requires JetBlue to stop chronic flight delays and pay a $2 million penalty, with half going directly to the US Treasury and the other half used to compensate passengers affected by the chronically delayed flights.
Passengers impacted by JetBlue’s chronically delayed flights will receive at least $75 in compensation for each harmed passenger. The DOT also ordered JetBlue to stop operating chronically delayed flights that arrive more than 30 minutes late, more than half of the time.
The investigation found that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights with delays and cancellations exceeding 395 times between June 2022 and November 2023. Despite receiving warnings from the DOT, JetBlue continued to operate three additional chronically delayed flights in its largest markets. The airline was responsible for over 70% of the disruptions on these flights.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated that JetBlue’s actions were a contributing factor to the chronic delays. The DOT stated that airlines are required to give “adequate time to fix their schedule” after a flight becomes chronically delayed, but JetBlue failed to do so.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/jetblue-hit-2m-fine-chronic-flight-delays