(NewsNation) — Discount airline JetBlue has been fined $2 million for operating with what federal aviation officials have determined to be chronic flight delays.
The penalty, which was handed down Friday, marks the first time the U.S. Department of Transportation punished an airline for running behind, the agency said. The agency defines chronic delays as flights that are flown at least 10 times a month and that arrive more than 30 minutes late at least 50% of the time.
America’s wage theft epidemic: Where do workers lose the most?
“Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers. Today’s action puts the entire airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
Half of the fine levied against the airline will be given to passengers affected by the delays, The Associated Press reported.
In announcing the fine, the Department of Transportation said it had warned JetBlue specifically about flights between Kennedy International Airport in New York and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina. Other affected destinations hit hard by delays included Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Florida, Orlando and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, The New York Times reported.
Federal transportation officials announced that in flights involving the four destinations, there were 395 delays and cancellations of the JetBlue flights, CBS News reported.
Between June 2022 and November 2023, passengers experienced flight delays for five months in a row. The airline was responsible for the delays 70% of the time, the Department of Transportation said.
In a statement, JetBlue spokesperson Derek Dombrowski said that the airline had spent tens of millions of dollars to improve its operations and reduce flight delays. However, he said that many of the delays were caused by air traffic control issues.
“While we’ve reached a settlement to resolve this matter regarding four (routes) in 2022 and 2023, we believe accountability for reliable air travel equally lies with the U.S. government, which operates our nation’s air traffic control system,” Dombrowski said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
