JetBlue Airways has been slapped with $2 million penalty for operating ‘chronically’ delayed flights.
The Transportation Department said it was the first time it had fined an airline for delays, which it blamed on ‘unrealistic scheduling’ by JetBlue.
Officials were forced to act as the budget carrier repeatedly subjected passengers to delays, which wrecked vacations, family visits and work trips.
The agency defines a flight as chronically delayed if it runs at least 10 times a month and arrives more than 30 minutes late more than half the time.
Half of the money collected will go to affected passengers. The fine relate to flights on four routes on the East Coast in 2022 and 2023 and JetBlue says it has improved
But delays and cancellations are still common.
Only three in five JetBlue flights arrive on time, a report in October showed – the worst of any carrier in the US.
Delays and cancellations badly hit travelers. In late December, furious Jet Blue customers were cast out on street ‘like animals’ after a canceled flight.
Those who were supposed to be traveling on the flight back to Boston from the Caribbean on December 28 described their experience as a ‘nightmare’.
It was a scene of chaos after a flight to Boston from the Turks and Caicos was cancelled
Some children were forced to sleep on the floor with neither the airport or airline providing help
‘To put people out on the streets like animals was definitely something I will never forget for the rest of my life,’ said Marty, a father of three, recounting the harrowing night to Boston25News.
On the fines issued Friday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said: ‘Illegal chronic flight delays make flying unreliable for travelers. Today´s action puts the entire airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality.’
His department has led the Biden administration in criticizing airlines for poor service and an increase in fees on travelers.
JetBlue said the government, which operates the air traffic control system, shares the blame for late flights.
Airline spokesperson Derek Dombrowski said JetBlue has invested ‘tens of millions of dollars to reduce flight delays, particularly related to ongoing air traffic control challenges in our largest markets in the Northeast and Florida,’ resulting in better on-time performance in 2024, including during the peak summer travel season.
‘While we´ve reached a settlement to resolve this matter regarding four (routes) in 2022 and 2023, we believe accountability for reliable air travel equally lies with the U.S. government, which operates our nation´s air traffic control system,’ Dombrowski said.
He said the incoming Trump administration should prioritize modernizing ‘outdated’ air traffic control technology and understaffing of controllers, who are hired by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Transportation Department regulations prohibit airlines from publishing schedules that don´t reflect real departure and arrival times.
The department cited JetBlue flights between June 2022 and November 2023.
It said it warned JetBlue about frequent delays on flights between New York´s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina.
Frequent delays also occurred on flights between JFK and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and between Windsor Locks, Connecticut and Fort Lauderdale.
In December, Jet Blue said it was cutting scores of routes for 2025 – throwing travel plans into chaos.
And multiple reports point to JetBlue being the worst or among the worst for delays and cancellations.
JetBlue is the most likely to delay holiday flights, according to a study out in October from officials.
The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection said only 60.75 percent of JetBlue’s flights arrive on time. The number was calculated based on reports submitted by 66 airports nationwide.
Incredibly, JetBlue is also among the worst ten airlines for canceling flights, according to another report in November.
Meanwhile in June, JetBlue was hit with anti-Semitism claims after ‘calling the police’ on a Jewish passenger and accusing him of ‘causing a disturbance’ for complaining about flight attendant’s Palestine flag pin.
Paul Faust, 54, said he quietly made a complaint about the pin to a supervisor on the plane – but when he landed a uniformed official demanded to see his ID, claimed he caused a disturbance, called the police – and then then canceled his return flight.
Faust, who is Jewish, is accusing the airline of ‘blatant antisemitism’ over the incident.
A JetBlue spokesperson said they are investigating what happened.
JetBlue also came under fire last spring when it introduced dynamic pricing for checked baggage fees – the first major US carrier to do so.
A passenger traveling on a standard domestic ticket during an ‘off peak’ period who pays for one bag more than 24 hours before the flight will pay $35 under the new rules.
During a ‘peak’ period – for example when families are heading on summer vacations or Thanksgiving – they will have to pay $50 to check one bag at the airport.
