DOT announces $2M penalty against JetBlue for chronic flight delays

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $2M penalty against JetBlue (JBLU) for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. The penalty marks the first time DOT has fined an airline for chronic flight delays – a prohibited unrealistic scheduling practice which can harm both passengers and fair competition across the airline industry, the DOT said. Half of the penalty is going to compensate JetBlue customers affected by the airline’s chronic delays or any future disruptions caused by JetBlue within the next year. DOT has ongoing investigations into other airlines for unrealistic flight schedules. “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,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “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.” DOT’s investigation uncovered that JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights at least 145 times between June 2022 through November 2023.