JetBlue hit with $2 million penalty by DOT for chronic delays, forced to offer compensation

The Department of Transportation has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for operating four chronically delayed flights on domestic routes — the first time it has levied such a fine on an airline for the prohibited scheduling practice.

The USDOT said Friday that as part of a consent agreement with the airline, JetBlue will pay a $1 million fine and the remainder will go toward compensating customers affected by chronic delays or any future disruptions within the next year. .

As part of the deal, JetBlue has agreed to provide at least $75 worth of vouchers to passengers for future flight cancellations or delays of three hours or more caused by the airline within the next year.

“Today’s action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

JetBlue, which denied liability, said in a statement that it appreciates “how important it is to our customers to arrive at their destinations on time and works hard to keep our flights on schedule.”

He criticized the USDOT for its continued lack of adequate air traffic control personnel.

“We believe the responsibility for reliable air travel rests with the U.S. government, which operates our nation’s air traffic control system,” the airline said.

The USDOT said at various points in 2022 and 2023 JetBlue operated chronically delayed flights between New York and Raleigh-Durham, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando along with a flight between Fort Lauderdale and Windsor Locks, Conn.

“Regardless of the cause of the delay (carrier, weather, national airspace, security) for any specific flight, JetBlue had adequate time to act to avoid chronic delays,” USDOT said.

The airline said it spent tens of millions of dollars to address air traffic control issues, particularly on the northeast corridor, as much as possible to prevent any chronic delays.

The USDOT said there were 395 delays and cancellations on four chronically delayed flights in total, meaning US flights that are canceled or arrive more than 30 minutes late more than 50% of the time in a month.

The department estimates that JetBlue was responsible for over 70% of the disruptions for the four chronically delayed flights.

USDOT last month sought comment on whether it should mandate cash compensation for long delays or cancellations caused by airlines.

Southwest Airlines in December 2023 agreed to offer $90 million in travel vouchers of $75 or more to passengers who were delayed at least three hours in reaching their final destinations due to a problem or cancellation caused by the airline, as part of of a USDOT settlement during the carrier holiday in December 2022. melting.