Transportation Department sues Southwest Airlines for chronic flight delays

In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) intensified its efforts to address ongoing issues with chronically delayed flights by filing a civil lawsuit against Southwest Airlines. This legal action, initiated in a California district court, stemmed from allegations that Southwest operated flights that were consistently delayed, significantly disrupting travel plans for passengers. The DOT’s investigation revealed that two particular routes, one from Chicago Midway International Airport to Oakland, California, and another from Baltimore, Maryland to Cleveland, Ohio, exhibited chronic delays over a five-month period from April to August 2022, impacting 180 travelers. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the legal duty of airlines to provide realistic schedules, highlighting that the department is prepared to enforce passenger rights through legal measures. Southwest Airlines expressed disappointment in the DOT’s focus on flights over two years old, arguing that this timeframe does not reflect the overall operational performance of the airline. The company noted that since the implementation of the DOT's Chronically Delayed Flight policy, it has completed over 20 million flights without further violations. Additionally, in 2024, Southwest achieved a remarkable record of completing more than 99% of its scheduled flights without cancellations. In conjunction with the lawsuit against Southwest, the DOT also penalized Frontier Airlines with a civil fine of $650,000. Half of this amount is to be paid immediately to the U.S. Treasury, while the other half may be suspended if Frontier refrains from operating any chronically delayed flights over the next three years. The actions taken against both airlines are a part of a broader increase in scrutiny from federal regulators regarding flight punctuality. Less than two weeks prior to the Southwest lawsuit, the DOT imposed a $2 million penalty on JetBlue Airlines for similar chronic delay issues, marking a notable shift in the agency's enforcement of flight schedule regulations. The rising trend of significant penalties for airlines underlines the willingness of federal regulators to hold carriers accountable for their operational practices regarding delays, stressing the importance of realistic scheduling. An aviation data report indicated that despite the lawsuit, Southwest had ranked fifth among North American airlines for on-time performance, with nearly 78% of flights arriving on time in the previous year. However, the lawsuit and fines reflect the heightened concerns over passenger satisfaction and operational integrity within the airline industry, as regulators continue to take proactive measures to protect travelers.