Over the past year, the airline industry has faced a significant crackdown from the U.S. government over policies and practices that have increasingly frustrated consumers.
The problems facing airlines began when the Biden administration announced in October 2023 that it would examine so-called junk fees that airlines charge for services such as checking bags, choosing seats, and canceling or changing flights.
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The administration subsequently completed a ruler in April of last year that aims to protect travelers from surprise airfares by requiring airlines to disclose critical additional fees in advance, ending bait-and-switch discount tactics and informing travelers that they are not required to purchase a seat assignment.
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Even after the new rule was finalized, the Biden administration is still focusing on airlines that have recently negatively affected consumers, and JetBlue. (JBLU) It is your ultimate goal.
JetBlue faces fine for frustrating problem
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) just fined JetBlue $2 million for “operating multiple flights with chronic delays,” according to a new press release. This is the first time the department has fined an airline for chronic flight delays.
The fine comes after the transportation department found that between June 2022 and November 2023, JetBlue operated four “chronically delayed flights” at least 145 times. Investigators found that each flight was delayed “for five months straight, or more.”
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The delayed flights were between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina; Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Orlando, Florida; JFK and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
The transport department further noted that the airline was responsible for more than 70% of the disruptions on the four routes.
“Regardless of the cause of the disruption of any specific flight, DOT rules provide airlines with adequate time to fix their schedule after a flight is chronically delayed to avoid illegal and unrealistic scheduling. JetBlue did not do so,” the department said in the news release.
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Half of the $2 million raised will be used to compensate JetBlue customers who were affected by the airline's chronic delays and to pay for any future disruptions caused by the airline over the next year.
The department also warned that it has ongoing investigations into other airlines for “unrealistic flight schedules.”
“Chronic illegal flight delays make flights unreliable for travelers,” US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release. “Today's action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality.”
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In response to the $2 million fine, JetBlue said in a statement emailed to TheStreet that the incoming presidential administration should “prioritize modernizing outdated ATC technology and addressing chronic traffic controller staffing shortages.” “airline” to help reduce travel delays.
“While we have reached an agreement to resolve this matter regarding four flights in 2022 and 2023, we believe that the responsibility for reliable air travel rests equally with the US government, which operates the traffic control system airline,” JetBlue said in its statement.
JetBlue recently received harsh criticism from consumers
The department's move comes after JetBlue recently faced consumer criticism for experiencing flight delays.
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In 2023, The Wall Street Journal even ranked JetBlue last among its airlines. scorekeeper stating that it finished last in four categories: “on-time arrivals, canceled flights, delays greater than 45 minutes and tarmac delays.”
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