Southwest Airlines is facing a lawsuit from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) over two chronically delayed flights that resulted in 180 disruptions between April and August 2022. The airline allegedly failed to fix its schedule, leading to significant delays on routes between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and Baltimore and Cleveland.
According to DOT data, Southwest was responsible for over 90% of the disruptions, which occurred due to flights being delayed for five months in a row. The chronically delayed flights are defined as flights that arrive late more than 50% of the time or are flown at least 10 times a month.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the lawsuit is part of the department’s commitment to supporting passenger rights. He emphasized that airlines have a legal obligation to ensure realistic departure and arrival times for travelers.
Southwest responded by stating it completed over 99% of its flights without cancellation in 2024, with no other chronically delayed flight violations since 2009. The airline disputed the claim, saying any argument about its scheduling is “not credible” when compared to its past performance.
The DOT has also fined other airlines for delays, including $650,000 to Frontier Airlines and $2 million to JetBlue Airways. These fines aim to enforce passenger protections and ensure fair competition in the industry.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/15/travel/dot-sues-southwest-airlines-late-flights/index.html