In a First, Feds Fine JetBlue for Chronically Delaying Flights

The US Department of Transportation is fining JetBlue $2 million for chronically delayed flights, the first time the agency has financially penalized a company for failing to stick to its schedule.

Between June 2022 and November 2023, the DOT determined that four airlines had a typical trip that was at least 30 minutes late for at least four consecutive months, a violation of agency rules that prohibit airlines from advertising. Confusing and unrealistic travel schedule. The offending flights were 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.

“Unlawful prolonged flight delays make flights unreliable for passengers. Today’s action targets the airline industry that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. statement. “The Department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices to protect healthy competition and ensure that passengers are treated fairly.”

Based on information provided by JetBlue, the DOT estimated that the airline itself was responsible for more than 70 percent of the four flight delays.

The fine is a drop in the bucket for JetBlue, which had revenue of $2.4 billion 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 the relevant delays, who will each receive at least $75.

JetBlue agreed to settle but did not accept any liability. The company said staffing and operational issues with the air traffic control system at Northeast were the “main cause” of the delay.

“JetBlue has invested millions of dollars in its systems and process improvements to address air traffic control issues … These past and ongoing efforts have been reflected in a large and sustained improvement in JetBlue’s operations over the past two years since problematic flights occurred,” the company said in a DOT- wrote in response to its consent order.

In announcing the settlement with JetBlue, the DOT also noted its other recent achievements in regulating the airline industry. Under the Biden administration, the agency said, it issued nearly $225 million in fines for consumer protection violations, triple the fines issued between 1996 and 2022.