The US Department of Transportation (DOT) is suing Southwest Airlines for operating “multiple chronically delayed flights” as well as fining Frontier Airlines $650,000 for the same reason, it announced on January 15, 2025.
The DOT's lawsuit against Southwest is seeking “maximum civil penalties".
“As part of our commitment to supporting passenger rights and fairness in the market for airline travel, we are suing Southwest Airlines for disrupting passengers' travel with unlawful chronic flight delays,” said US Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Airlines have a legal obligation to ensure that their flight schedules provide travellers with realistic departure and arrival times.”
The fine for Frontier includes $325,000 to be paid to the US Treasury and the remaining $325,000 to be suspended if the carrier does not operate any “chronically delayed flights” in the next three years.
The news follows the department fining JetBlue $2 million for the same reason. Late last year, the DOT proposed a new rule for passengers to claim compensation on delayed or cancelled flights.
The lawsuit against Southwest was filed jointly with the Department of Justice in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.