While JetBlue is known for its pleasant passenger experience, the airline hasn’t historically been known for its operational reliability. The situation got so bad that the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has just issued its first-ever fine for chronic flight delays against the airline.
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DOT fines JetBlue $2 million for unrealistic scheduling
The DOT has today announced a $2 million penalty against JetBlue for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. $1 million of that goes to the US treasury, while the other $1 million will be used to compensate JetBlue customers impacted by operational unreliability. Over the next year, for flight cancelations or delays of three or more hours caused by JetBlue, the airline will have to provide compensation valued at a minimum of $75 per passenger.
So, what regulations did JetBlue violate? DOT rules prohibit airlines from promising unrealistic schedules that do not reflect actual flight departure and arrival times. The DOT claims that unrealistic scheduling is an unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive practice, that disrupts passengers’ travel plans, denies them reliable scheduling information, and allows airlines to unfairly capture business from competitors by misleading consumers.
Per the DOT’s definition, chronically delaying a flight for more than four consecutive months is one form of unrealistic scheduling. Under DOT rules, a flight is chronically delayed if it is flown at least 10 times per month, and arrives more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time. Cancellations are included as delays within this calculation.
The DOT’s investigation uncovered that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. Each flight was chronically delayed for at least five months in a row. Despite the DOT warning JetBlue about the chronic delays on its flights, the airline continued to operate these routes. The services in question include the following four routes:
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Hartford (BDL)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to New York (JFK)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Orlando (MCO)
- New York (JFK) to Raleigh Durham (RDU)
For these four routes, the DOT found that JetBlue was responsible for over 70% of disruptions. But regardless of the cause of disruptions, DOT rules provide airlines adequate time to fix their schedules after a flight becomes chronically delayed, prior to being fined. JetBlue failed to do so, however.
Here’s how US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg describes this fine:
“Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers. Today’s action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality. 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.”
JetBlue’s on-time performance is improving
This fine on the part of the DOT seems totally fair. There’s simply no denying that JetBlue has historically not focused enough on its on-time performance. Admittedly part of the issue is that the airline has its biggest hubs in some of the most congested airspace.
But still, even beyond that, the airline has engaged in unrealistic scheduling, thereby doing a poor job with managing the expectations of passengers. One of the issues in the United States is that there are limited penalties for airlines when their on-time performance is poor. Airlines have the incentive to sell as many seats as possible to get revenue upfront, even if the schedule is somewhat unreasltic.
Now, to give JetBlue some credit, these fines are all for flights that go back well over a year. JetBlue’s new management team is doing a phenomenal job trying to turn around the airline, which is no small task. For example, in the third quarter of 2024, JetBlue’s on-time performance improved by 12%, which is very impressive.
Ultimately JetBlue is trying to position itself as a leisure airline that’s still a bit premium, and operational reliability is important. So this fine doesn’t seem inappropriate, though at the same time, I think JetBlue executives have realized the general business case for improving operational reliability.
If anything, my only criticism of the fine is that JetBlue has already made positive changes, and the airline is struggling with profitability. JetBlue is ultimately good for competition, and we need the airline to succeed, to help keep the “big three” US carriers in check.
Bottom line
The Department of Transportation has issued a $2 million penalty against JetBlue over chronic delays, which is the first time we’ve seen such a penalty. JetBlue has historically been known for its poor on-time performance, so I don’t think this will surprise anyone.
The DOT has a specific definition of chronic flight delays, and JetBlue had several routes that met that definition over a long period of time. The good news is that JetBlue is moving in the right direction, and the carrier’s on-time performance has improved very nicely as of late.
What do you make of the DOT fining JetBlue for chronic delays?
How wonderful that the government, who is paid by taxpayers, is finally doing something for taxpayers.
Everyone impacted is getting $35 in cold hard cash.
Bravo
I believe someone at the DOT/ DOJ has a vendetta against JetBlue. My theory is either someone in the government worked for jetBlue and got fired or someone at JetBlue slept with a government official wife! :-D
I often like taking evening flights after work. However, I recently learned the risk of this courtesy of JetBlue. My 8pm flight kept getting pushed back such that our 11pm arrival became 4am. Considering operational reliability will be an important future consideration.
Jetblue mint is my favorite domestic method of flying. The others are far behind imo. But I have to agree and evey time I do a jetblue survey I mention delays as an issue. Though I have not had atrocious delays of 4+ hours or cancelation which I have experienced with other airlines, it does seem like a chronic issue with jetblue being an hour late. We'll see if anything comes of this. It's clearly...
Jetblue mint is my favorite domestic method of flying. The others are far behind imo. But I have to agree and evey time I do a jetblue survey I mention delays as an issue. Though I have not had atrocious delays of 4+ hours or cancelation which I have experienced with other airlines, it does seem like a chronic issue with jetblue being an hour late. We'll see if anything comes of this. It's clearly just a warning shot, $2m is not that much. Whether the next administration will actually care is another story.
Just curious, can JetBlue solve the issue by consistently padding/overscheduling the amount of time needed to fly a flight and arrive at gate? Such that the actual time needed is often shorter than the timetable time? Does the DOT care the other direction?
I would guess not, as long as the flight arrives by the officially stated time, even if it has spent 30 min on ground waiting for arrival gate.
Had some family fly B6 this weekend. Flight got slightly delayed early in the day and they asked to change to a different flight. CS said not without a big change fee. They kept the same flight and it got delayed more. Always makes me scratch my head how the airlines don’t want to just get folks home by the time the day of travel comes around. Wonder if that will change that they are now actually on the hook to these customers for when it goes south.
I know B6 has a terrible reputation for on-time issues. However I fly them fairly regularly, always LAX to JFK (and previously LAX to EWR when they ran that route as well) and LAX to BOS, and literally only once in roughly a decade of flying did I encounter a flight delay. It honestly feels like people are talking about an entirely different airline when they complain about flight delays and B6, even though I...
I know B6 has a terrible reputation for on-time issues. However I fly them fairly regularly, always LAX to JFK (and previously LAX to EWR when they ran that route as well) and LAX to BOS, and literally only once in roughly a decade of flying did I encounter a flight delay. It honestly feels like people are talking about an entirely different airline when they complain about flight delays and B6, even though I know the data is accurate. Are transcons just that different? Does anyone have stats on B6 transcon flight reliability? In my experience, it's exceptionally reliable and I truly love B6.
Bob,
As you know, B6 operates many of its transcon flights on A321s with Mint which do not rotate to/from Florida which is where the DOT noted all 4 of these chronically delayed flights operated.
yes, B6 does have much better on-time on its Mint aircraft than on its aircraft that serve the Caribbean and east coast.
The DOT tracks reasons for delays and the percentage of delays due to ATC is less...
Bob,
As you know, B6 operates many of its transcon flights on A321s with Mint which do not rotate to/from Florida which is where the DOT noted all 4 of these chronically delayed flights operated.
yes, B6 does have much better on-time on its Mint aircraft than on its aircraft that serve the Caribbean and east coast.
The DOT tracks reasons for delays and the percentage of delays due to ATC is less than 1% of all flights across all airlines. Long ATC delays on the east coast often spiral into late arriving aircraft delays and those are delays for which the DOT holds airlines responsible. Airlines need to pull other aircraft and crew into service to stop cascading delays and it is likely because B6 did not break the delays that is these 4 flights were delayed so often.
Also, when ATC delays are put in place by the FAA, they typically start with the smallest region of the country necessary to slow the flow of traffic into the US. Weather can change alot in the 5 hours a flight takes to cross the US so ATC delays in the NE that are applied to the west coast typically involves severe weather issues which the FAA does not expect to resolve within the calendar day or that the accumulation of delays will take all day to resolve.
Note also that the US and Canada cooperate on ATC delays for either country but most international flights into the US are not subject to US ATC delays at their origins.
Ben is right that the current B6 mgmt is addressing these problems but either the DOT doesn't think they are moving fast enough or they are exacting revenge now because they can and want to set an example with B6 for the rest of the industry. As Ben notes, this is new territory for the DOT and the US airline industry.
Thanks for your helpful and informative reply. I just find it odd that B6 transcon seems to be an entirely different airline than B6 East Coast. As an exclusively transcon flyer, I adore JetBlue. I almost always sit in Mint (and usually the throne seats), so the hard and soft products are excellent, and the flight schedules are reliable. But even the Even More Space seats in coach are terrific for that class of product,...
Thanks for your helpful and informative reply. I just find it odd that B6 transcon seems to be an entirely different airline than B6 East Coast. As an exclusively transcon flyer, I adore JetBlue. I almost always sit in Mint (and usually the throne seats), so the hard and soft products are excellent, and the flight schedules are reliable. But even the Even More Space seats in coach are terrific for that class of product, plus of course the tvs and free wifi for all. LOL - ironically, maybe B6 is better off just running transcons.
Overall B6 has been noticeably better since last spring, but I do LGA/JFK - FLL and JFK-LAX fairly regularly and it really is a night and day difference between the Florida runs and the transcons. As Tim points out, its partially due to the way the mint fleet is utilized, but I'm sure its also the number of flights B6 was trying to push onto a particular frame in a day. An A321mint might just...
Overall B6 has been noticeably better since last spring, but I do LGA/JFK - FLL and JFK-LAX fairly regularly and it really is a night and day difference between the Florida runs and the transcons. As Tim points out, its partially due to the way the mint fleet is utilized, but I'm sure its also the number of flights B6 was trying to push onto a particular frame in a day. An A321mint might just go back and forth between LAX and JFK one round trip in a day. An A320 based in FLL might make 4, 5 even 6 round trips to the North East or Caribbean in a day. That presents a lot more opportunity for things to snowball.
6 flights, not round trips...
Making excuses for this flaming turd of an airline does not become you.
I'll add myself to the chorus as another person who really likes the JetBlue passenger experience but has also been frustrated by these delays, so this fine seems fair. The last three times I've flown JetBlue have been returning home after flying different airlines outbound, which underscores this point. If I have to get somewhere on time, I'll fly a different airline, but if I'm coming home and can afford a delay I'll roll the dice with B6.
So then I assume B6 can fine the DOT for its chronic understaffing resulting in: excess vectoring (fuel burn) for reduced arrival rates, longer routing due to sector closures, delays for ATC staffing and the list goes on.
DOT and Mayor Pete: take care of your own house before casting blame onto the airlines who are saddled with your ineptitude !
Doesn’t sound like you’re from the US. Government accountability comes from the ballot box and these guys will be gone in a couple of weeks. B6 should get its act together.
Are you “that” Mayor Pete???
@MexPilot, how is it that other airlines are able to figure out how to reliably operate in this environment and JetBlue can not?
When people say JetBlue, my immediate association is delays. I have so so many stories of being comically delayed on JetBlue flights. I once watched an entire movie laying in a Mint throne seat while sitting at the gate at JFK. I have flown their SJU>DCA route at least 10 times, and I do not believe I have ever once taken off on time. I recently considered a 7am flight with them and thought "yeah...
When people say JetBlue, my immediate association is delays. I have so so many stories of being comically delayed on JetBlue flights. I once watched an entire movie laying in a Mint throne seat while sitting at the gate at JFK. I have flown their SJU>DCA route at least 10 times, and I do not believe I have ever once taken off on time. I recently considered a 7am flight with them and thought "yeah but 7am JetBlue isn't terrible - that's more like 8:30-9 in practice..."
So glad Jet Blue got fined for this. I really like the statement "unrealistic scheduling is an unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive practice, that disrupts passengers’ travel plans, denies them reliable scheduling information, and allows airlines to unfairly capture business from competitors by misleading consumers."
So true. I think we need even more scrutiny on these issues to ensure a fair and competitive airline market.
Finally some action. Brilliant news! Hopefully this is followed by similar fines for other airlines (although honestly nobody is screwing up as much as B6 on a regular basis).
The government is slow in doing alot of things but they also often allow part of a fine to be waived if a company has made progress in addressing the reason for the fine; that is often the case with handling of disabilities.
JBLU's former management was too busy chasing a host of initiatives to focus on the core operation and that is why the DOT had to act. Other airlines have addressed chronic underperformance...
The government is slow in doing alot of things but they also often allow part of a fine to be waived if a company has made progress in addressing the reason for the fine; that is often the case with handling of disabilities.
JBLU's former management was too busy chasing a host of initiatives to focus on the core operation and that is why the DOT had to act. Other airlines have addressed chronic underperformance in the same markets or congested airports.
FLL and NYC airports are operationally very challenging and require having resources available to get flights back on time when things fall apart - as they often do. Operational reliability is costly but it is the cost of not falling below the line in being unreliable.
Plus, this DOT's leadership is out of a job in a couple weeks.
It shouldn't be a surprise if there are a few more of these types of announcements from DC.
I flew on JetBlue for the first time in many years, as I had no other option. It was like going back to 2012 in every way. I really hope they turn things around as they are most convenient for me in terms of schedules and routes.
Around a decade ago I had a JetBlue flight booked that ended up leaving around 3-4 hours late, and I got a flight credit which I used to book another JetBlue flight a few months later. That flight was also delayed, resulting in another flight credit. That credit ended up being used on (you guessed it) another delayed flight. I think I ended up getting four round-trip JetBlue flights for the price of one when...
Around a decade ago I had a JetBlue flight booked that ended up leaving around 3-4 hours late, and I got a flight credit which I used to book another JetBlue flight a few months later. That flight was also delayed, resulting in another flight credit. That credit ended up being used on (you guessed it) another delayed flight. I think I ended up getting four round-trip JetBlue flights for the price of one when it was all said and done. As a poor college student, the delays were annoying, but the savings were worth it. I doubt I'd feel the same way today.