JetBlue fined $2M over chronically delayed flights

JetBlue delayed flights overview: 

• Who: The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million.
• Why: The DOT says JetBlue operated chronically delayed flights over a nearly 18-month period. 
• Where: The JetBlue fine was issued in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for operating chronically delayed flights over a nearly 18-month period. 

According to a consent order served to the airline Jan. 3, JetBlue violated federal regulations by holding out at least four flights that were consistently late, affecting thousands of passengers.

The DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection identified the violations during routine monitoring of airline operations, the order states. 

The flights, which spanned routes such as New York City to Raleigh-Durham, Orlando to New York City, and Fort Lauderdale to Windsor Locks, were delayed more than 50% of the time across multiple months between June 2022 and November 2023, the order says. Collectively, these flights were held out to the public 145 times despite their chronic delays.

“JetBlue had adequate time to act to avoid the chronic delays,” the DOT said, calling the airline’s actions an “unfair and deceptive practice” that disregarded passengers’ need for reliable scheduling.

JetBlue delayed flights did not reduce over a period of months, order says

Under federal law, a chronically delayed flight is defined as one that operates at least ten times a month and arrives over 30 minutes late more than half the time for four consecutive months, the DOT says. Airlines are required to adjust schedules within a 60-day window to avoid further delays, but JetBlue failed to do so, the department added.

In response, JetBlue emphasized its commitment to compliance, denying liability while agreeing to the fine to avoid prolonged litigation. 

“JetBlue takes extremely seriously its obligations to comply with applicable federal law, regulations, and policies,” the airline said in a statement, noting its investments in system improvements to mitigate delays.

The airline also criticized the DOT for ending its practice of issuing individual warnings for chronically delayed flights, a change implemented in 2018. JetBlue said it will continue to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Congress to address air traffic control issues, particularly in the Northeastern U.S. corridor.

The JetBlue fine of $2 million includes $1 million credited toward passenger compensation and operational improvements. 

Last year, JetBlue Airways announced it reached a deal with Spirit Airlines to end their planned $3.8 billion merger, after a Massachusetts federal court blocked it at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice which said it violated antitrust laws and harmed consumers.

Have you had an experience with JetBlue delayed flights? Let us know in the comments. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation is represented in-house by Blane A. Workie. 

The JetBlue delayed flights fine is JetBlue Airways Corp., Case No. OST-2024-0001, before the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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