A couple of weeks ago, we saw JetBlue fined for operating chronically delayed flights, representing a first-ever fine for this reason from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Well, JetBlue isn’t the only airline being targeted, as Southwest is now being sued for a similar reason.
Continue reading: Southwest Airlines Sued By DOT For Chronic Flight Delays In 2022
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Legacy carriers have a delayed/canceled rate of 30 percent. Regulators are going after those on the naughty list.
false... the DOT reports on-time percentages for domestic flights in its Air Travel Consumer Report.
For the first 9 months of 2024, as recent as the DOT has released, HA was highest at 82.7 and DL was also in the 80s at 80.6. All other carriers were in the 70s.
WN's cumulative on-time through Sept was 76.8 for 4th place behind UA.
as ben noted, it is true that WN is operating pretty reliably across their system but that WN also violated the DOT's guidelines for 2 flights.
The question is whether the DOT has the ability to enforce their guidance as law for which carriers can be fined and I strongly bet that question will be answered by the next administration - not just about these on-time cases but in general regarding the current administration's interpretation and enforcement of other consumer regulations as they see them but which are not codified in US law.
Southwest is perpetually delayed. It seems obvious by now that they never intend on actually departing at their scheduled times. It’s a chronic issue. Worst part for me is they refuse to update it in real time and only tell you after you finally boarded. Very shady business practices since around 2022. They aren’t the SW of the 90s and 2000s to 2010s.