DOT Fines Delta Air Line for Failing to Disclose On-Time Performance
The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday assessed a civil penalty against Delta Air Lines for failing to provide information on the on-time arrival performance of its flights when asked by consumers.
With yesterday's consent order, the third this year against airlines for failing to provide on-time performance information as required by DOT rules, Delta was ordered to cease and desist from further violations and assessed a civil penalty of $115,000. Previously, on Oct. 3 Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways were both assessed civil penalties of $50,000 and $30,000, respectively.
"An important part of our effort to minimize the impact of flight delays on consumers is making sure they have the best available information about delays," U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said. "As we take new steps to reduce delays and improve air travel for passengers, we will make sure airlines comply with existing consumer rules."
Airlines that report on-time performance to DOT--currently 20 large passenger carriers--must provide on-time arrival statistics when requested by passengers. After receiving information that some carriers were failing to provide consumers on-time arrival information of flights, the Enforcement Office launched an investigation that involved several hundred test calls to the reporting carriers.
The Delta order also covers violations by several Delta Connection carriers--Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines--for which Delta provides reservation services. The Enforcement Office is continuing to investigate other carriers.