US sues Southwest Airlines over chronically delayed flights

WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters): President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday sued Southwest Airlines, accusing the carrier of illegally operating multiple chronically delayed flights and disrupting passengers' travel.
The US Transportation Department said in its civil suit in US District Court in Northern California that the Texas-based air carrier had operated unrealistic schedules and should be required to pay maximum civil penalties. The Justice Department joined in the suit.
USDOT said that for five months in 2022, Southwest operated two chronically delayed flights: one between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and another between Baltimore and Cleveland. "Today's action sends a message to all airlines that the department is prepared to go to court in order to enforce passenger protections," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
The department also said it was fining Frontier Airlines $650,000 for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. Frontier, which declined to comment, will pay $325,000 and must pay the remainder if it operates any chronically delayed flights in the next three years.
Southwest said it was disappointed USDOT chose to sue "over two flights that occurred more than two years ago." Southwest said that since 2009, the carrier has operated more than 20 million flights with no other violations.
Under USDOT rules, a flight is chronically delayed if it is flown at least 10 times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late at least 50 per cent of the time.