JetBlue Airways will be fined $2 million by the Transportation Department on Friday for consistently running late flights throughout the East Coast, with half of the money going to passengers who are delayed.
The agency claimed that JetBlue’s irrational scheduling was the reason for the first time it had penalized an airline for persistent delays on particular routes.
Passengers find flying unreliable due to illegal, ongoing flight delays. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “Today’s action serves notice to the entire airline industry that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality.”
His division has been at the forefront of the Biden administration’s criticism of airlines for their subpar service and increased fares.
According to JetBlue, late flights are partly the fault of the government, which runs the air traffic control system.
“JetBlue has invested tens of millions of dollars to reduce flight delays, particularly related to ongoing air traffic control challenges in our largest markets in the Northeast and Florida,” said airline spokesperson Derek Dombrowski. As a result, JetBlue’s on-time performance in 2024 improved, including during the busiest summer travel season.
“We believe accountability for reliable air travel equally lies with the U.S. government, which operates our nation’s air traffic control system,” Dombrowski told the audience, despite the fact that we have negotiated a settlement to handle this situation with four (routes) in 2022 and 2023.
He said that the understaffing of FAA-hired controllers and updating antiquated air traffic control technology should be top priorities for the incoming Trump administration.
Airlines are not allowed to release timetables that do not accurately represent departure and arrival times, according Transportation Department regulations.
If a flight operates at least ten times a month and arrives more than half the time more than thirty minutes late, it is considered chronically delayed.
JetBlue flights from June 2022 to November 2023 were mentioned by the department. It claimed to have alerted JetBlue to the regular delays on flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
There were also regular delays on flights from JFK to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Florida, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.