DOT fines JetBlue for ‘chronically delayed flights’

The Department of Transport has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for “chronically delayed flights,” the first penalty of its kind, the DOT said Friday.

JetBlue operated four routes that were delayed at least 145 times from June 2022 to November 2023, the DOT said. Those were between JetBlue’s home hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina; between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and JFK, and between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut, according to the DOT.

“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 press release.

JetBlue was responsible for more than 70% of the disruptions on the four routes, the DOT said. The airline failed to adjust the flight time “to avoid illegal and unrealistic scheduling,” the department added.

The DOT considers a flight chronically delayed if it is flown at least 10 times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late more than half the time. He said he has ongoing investigations in other airlines for unreal flight plans.

JetBlue said in a statement that the government will do more to improve the staffing of air traffic controllers and modernize the system, echoing calls from executives. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and other major carriers.

“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 lies equally with the United States government, which operates the air traffic control system of our nation,” JetBlue said in its statement. “We believe the United States should have the safest, most efficient, and most advanced air traffic control system in the world, and we urge the incoming administration to prioritize the modernization of outdated ATC technology and address the shortage air traffic control personnel to reduce ATC delays that affect millions of air travelers every year.

Based in New York, JetBlue operates in some of the world’s most congested airspace. From January to September 2024, JetBlue was ranked nine out of 10 US airlines in on-time arrivals with 71.3% of flights arriving on time, an improvement of more than 64.9% in the year-over-year period first, according to a monthly DOT. account.

The DOT said it will credit JetBlue $1 million of the fine for goodwill compensation already paid to passengers during the investigation period, as well as for compensation that is paid within one year of the order. with vouchers to affected passengers paid at least $75.