
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have taken legal action against Southwest Airlines for allegedly running flights that experienced chronic delays, leading to significant disruptions for passengers. According to the DOT's investigation, Southwest operated two flights that were consistently delayed between April and August 2022, resulting in 180 instances of flight disruptions during that period. Under DOT rules, a flight is considered chronically delayed if it arrives more than 30 minutes late at least 50% of the time and is flown at least 10 times a month.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring passenger rights and fairness in the airline travel market, stating that the lawsuit against Southwest aims to hold airlines accountable for providing realistic departure and arrival times to travelers. Buttigieg's statement further highlighted the Department's readiness to use legal measures to enforce passenger protections and send a clear message to all airlines regarding the importance of meeting their obligations to passengers.
In response to the lawsuit, Southwest Airlines expressed disappointment with the government's decision to take legal action over flights that occurred more than two years ago. Southwest refuted the claim that the two flights in question reflect an unrealistic schedule, pointing to their performance record over the past 15 years as evidence of their operational reliability. This lawsuit against Southwest Airlines follows a recent instance where the DOT imposed a $2 million fine on JetBlue Airways for chronic flight delays, marking the first time an airline has faced such a penalty for repeated delays.