JetBlue fined $2M for chronic flight delays in first-of-its-kind penalty

Photo: Instagram/@jetblue

JetBlue Airways has been fined $2 million by the US Transportation Department for regularly delaying some of its flights and setting unrealistic schedules. This fine is the first of its kind, marking a significant step by the government to hold airlines accountable for poor service. The penalty comes at the end of the Biden administration's term, which has been tough on airlines for not prioritizing consumer rights. The government has also introduced rules to ensure automatic refunds for passengers when flights are severely delayed or canceled. They’ve worked on making sure wheelchair users are treated better and have investigated issues like civil rights violations in the airline industry.

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Out of the $2 million fine, half of the amount will be used to compensate passengers who were impacted by the delays. The US government has also stated that it is looking into other airlines for similar problems related to unrealistic flight schedules.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a statement about the issue, saying, “Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers.” He added that this action against JetBlue sends a message to the airline industry that flight schedules should reflect the reality of travel times.

The Transportation Department said that making promises about flight schedules that aren’t true is unfair and dishonest. It gives airlines an advantage by attracting more passengers through false information. According to US rules, a flight is considered "chronically delayed" if it is late by more than 30 minutes at least 10 times a month and is delayed more than half of the time.

The US government found that JetBlue operated at least four flights that met this definition of chronic delays. Between June 2022 and November 2023, these flights were delayed over 145 times, impacting thousands of travelers. One of the routes affected was between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated that JetBlue was responsible for over 70% of the delays on that route.

In response to the fine, JetBlue said it has spent millions of dollars over the past two years to try and reduce flight delays, especially those caused by air traffic control issues. The airline added that while it agreed to settle the issue over the four delayed flights, it believes the US government also shares some responsibility in ensuring reliable air travel. This is because the government runs the country’s air traffic control system.

As a result of the fine, JetBlue's stock fell slightly by less than 1% in early trading on Friday in New York.