The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, alleging the airline operated chronically delayed flights that disrupted passenger travel. The civil lawsuit, filed in December 2023 in the U.S. District Court in Northern California, accuses the Texas-based airline of maintaining unrealistic flight schedules.
According to a report from Reuters, the USDOT stated that Southwest Airlines operated two chronically delayed routes over a five-month period in 2022. These routes included flights between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and between Baltimore and Cleveland. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commented, “Today’s action sends a message to all airlines that the department is prepared to go to court in order to enforce passenger protections.”
Southwest Airlines expressed disappointment with the legal action, calling the claims related to the two flights “not credible” given the airline’s operational history. “Since 2009, Southwest has operated more than 20 million flights without other violations,” the airline said. It also highlighted that in 2024, it completed over 99% of flights without cancellations. The Southwest Airlines lawsuit challenges these assertions.
USDOT regulations define a chronically delayed flight as one that operates at least 10 times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late at least 50% of the time.
Ongoing Efforts to Enforce Passenger Protections
This lawsuit is part of a broader effort by USDOT to address airline practices that disrupt passenger travel. In December 2023, Southwest agreed to provide $90 million in travel vouchers as part of a USDOT settlement over a holiday travel meltdown in December 2022. These vouchers, valued at $75 or more, were intended for passengers who experienced delays of three hours or more due to airline-caused issues.
Frontier Airlines also faced penalties recently, with USDOT fining the airline $650,000 for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. Frontier will pay $325,000 immediately and will cover the remainder if it operates additional delayed flights within the next three years.
JetBlue Airways faced similar scrutiny in December 2023. USDOT fined JetBlue $2 million for operating four chronically delayed flights between 2022 and 2023. JetBlue agreed to pay $1 million upfront and allocated the remaining amount to compensate affected customers, just like in the Southwest Airlines lawsuit.
Looking Ahead
USDOT continues to explore additional measures to enhance passenger rights. In November 2023, the agency sought public input on the potential for mandating cash compensation for lengthy delays or cancellations caused by airlines.
The lawsuit against Southwest Airlines underscores USDOT’s ongoing efforts to protect passengers from scheduling practices that lead to disruptions. The Southwest Airlines lawsuit marks a critical step in this direction.
