The U.S. Department of Transportation has levied a record $4.1 million fine against American Airlines for multiple federal tarmac delay regulations violations, highlighting the agency's intensified focus on passengers' rights and airline accountability.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed this commitment in a robust manner, stating, "This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers. Whether the issue is extreme tarmac delays or problems getting refunds, DOT will continue to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable."
On Monday, August 28, 2023, a landmark decision emerged from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which imposed a staggering fine of $4.1 million on American Airlines. This punitive action was taken for the airline's repeated violations of federal regulations governing tarmac delays. Specifically, the DOT found instances where the airline detained passengers on the tarmac for an extended period, defying regulations that stipulate passengers must be given the opportunity to disembark if a delay exceeds a certain duration.
This penalty, as per the press release, is unparalleled, marking the steepest fine ever for such transgressions. Moreover, it accentuates the DOT's intensified efforts to champion passengers' rights, underscored by their initiative to reimburse travelers more than $2.5 billion in refunds.
The recent announcement revealed that between 2018 and 2021, the Department's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) found 43 occasions where American Airlines kept domestic flights on the tarmac longer than allowed without letting passengers leave the plane. The statement emphasized that passengers were given neither exceptions nor alternatives, breaching federal laws that forbid tarmac delays of three hours or more on domestic routes without giving passengers the choice to deplane.
Interestingly, the press release also disclosed that American Airlines would be credited $2.05 million from the total fine. This concession is meant to account for compensation the airline had already offered to the passengers who were subjected to these prolonged delays.
This latest move could be part of a more extensive DOT-sponsored campaign to inform airline passengers of their rights regarding cancellations, family seating, and other controllable delays.
