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DALLAS, TEXAS-BASED Southwest Airlines has been fined $1.6 million by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) after falling foul of federal regulations relating to tarmac delays.
The sanction – the biggest ever civil penalty levied against an airline for breaching these particular rules – relates to January 2 and 3, 2014 when 16 of the low-cost carrier’s aircraft were delayed at Chicago/Midway.
The regulator said an investigation led by its Aviation Enforcement Office found the budget carrier failed to offer passengers on the affected flights the opportunity to deplane within three hours of arrival and failed to have sufficient staff available to implement its Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan.
The sanction – the biggest ever civil penalty levied against an airline for breaching these particular rules – relates to January 2 and 3, 2014 when 16 of the low-cost carrier’s aircraft were delayed at Chicago/Midway.
The regulator said an investigation led by its Aviation Enforcement Office found the budget carrier failed to offer passengers on the affected flights the opportunity to deplane within three hours of arrival and failed to have sufficient staff available to implement its Tarmac Delay Contingency Plan.