The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a penalty of $2 million against JetBlue, for operating multiple chronically delayed flights.
The penalty marks the first time the DOT has fined an airline for chronic flight delays – a prohibited scheduling practice which can harm both passengers and fair competition.
Under DOT rules, a flight is chronically delayed if it is flown at least ten times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late, more than 50% of the time. Cancellations are included as delays within this calculation.
Half of the penalty is going to compensate JetBlue customers affected by chronic delays or any future disruptions caused by the carrier within the next year. JetBlue must pay the other half of the penalty – $1 million in cash – directly to the US Treasury.
“Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travellers. Today's action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” said US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices in order to protect healthy competition and ensure passengers are treated fairly.”
This investigation carried out by the DOT found that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times between June 2022 to November 2023, with each flight being chronically delayed for five months in a row or more.
The DOT emphasised that it has “warned” the airline about its chronic delays on flight between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Raleigh-Durham, however the DOT noted that the airline continued to operate three more chronically delayed flights between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and JFK, as well as between Fort Lauderdale and Windsor Locks.
The DOT also highlighted that it has ongoing investigations into other airlines for unrealistic flight schedules.