American Airlines is fined $4.1 million after 43 American flights had their passengers stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours without a chance to deplane.
Between 2018 and 2021, the Department of Transportation stated on Monday that the airline had violated federal rules put in place over 10 years ago, preventing the long wait times from passengers.
The federal government is fining American Airlines $4.1 million — the largest such fine — for dozens of instances in which passengers were kept on board planes without a chance to exit during long ground delays. https://t.co/Q39JswrIb7
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 29, 2023
The federal government is now fining the airline after 43 domestic flights remained on the ground for at least three hours without giving the 5,821 passengers a chance to deplane.
Most of the delays occurred at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where American is the dominant airline in Texas, while others occurred in San Antonio and Houston when flights heading to DFW were diverted there.
According to the department, this is the largest number of tarmac delays with half of the fine being credited to American for compensation it has already paid to its customers. The airline said it provided “substantial compensation” to delayed passengers,” and has since devoted more management attention to avoiding delays.
It is worth noting that these long delays affect a small number of the millions of flights American Airlines operated.
“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. According to ABC News, Buttigieg vowed to hold all airlines accountable under consumer-protection laws.
The consent order settling the case stated that American will owe the other half of the fine within the next 30 days.
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