The US Department of Transportation is fining JetBlue $2 million for chronically delayed flights. This marks the first time the agency has issued financial penalties to companies that consistently fail to meet the schedule.
Between June 2022 and November 2023, the DOT determined that four typical airline trips were delayed by at least 30 minutes on more than half of the flight time during a period of at least four consecutive months. It is a violation of the agency's rules that prohibit airlines from advertising. Misleading and unrealistic itinerary The offending flight took place between New York City and Raleigh-Durham. North Carolina; Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida; New York City and Fort Lauderdale; and Fort Lauderdale and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
“Illegal flight delays make travel unreliable for travelers. Today's action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttijk. said in a statement statement– “The Ministry will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling. to protect healthy competition and ensure passengers are treated fairly.”
Based on data provided by JetBlue, DOT estimates that the airline itself was responsible for more than 70 percent of the delays on the four flights.
The fines cost JetBlue $2.4 billion in revenue losses in the third quarter of 2024.
Half of the $2 million the airline must pay will go to the U.S. Treasury. in cash, while the DOT ordered the company to pay the other half to customers affected by related delays. This will be at least $75 per person.
JetBlue agreed to the settlement but did not accept any liability. The company said staffing and operational issues with air traffic control systems in the Northeast were the “root cause” of the delays.
“JetBlue has invested tens of millions of dollars in investments in systems and in process improvements to address air traffic control issues… These past and ongoing efforts are reflected in the substantial and sustained improvements to JetBlue's operations over the past two years. It has been many years since the flight in question occurred,” the company wrote in response to the DOT consent order.
In announcing the agreement with JetBlue, DOT also noted other achievements. The latest in regulating the airline industry as well. Under the Biden administration The agency has issued nearly $225 million in penalties. for various airlines for violations of consumer protection This is three times the amount of fines issued between 1996 and 2022.