Lufthansa, KLM, South African fined over unrefunded pandemic flights

The US Department of Transport has fined Lufthansa, KLM, and South African Airways for unrefunded flights during the pandemic. Under the consent orders, the three airlines are required to provide timely refunds to passengers when owed and to pay a civil penalty to the US Treasury. Lufthansa and KLM were fined $1.1 million each, while South African Airways was handed a $300,000 penalty. “When a flight is cancelled or significantly changed, you shouldn’t have to fight with the airline to get their money back—and we’re holding airlines accountable when they fail to give passengers the refunds that they’re owed,” said US