In this article, the Department of Transportation fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for “chronically delayed flights,” marking the first penalty of its kind, as announced by the DOT on Friday. JetBlue was found to have operated four routes that experienced delays at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. These routes included flights between JetBlue’s hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, as well as between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and JFK, and between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut, according to the DOT.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated in a news release, “Today’s action puts the entire airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality.” The DOT revealed that JetBlue was responsible for over 70% of the disruptions on the four mentioned routes, failing to adjust flight times to avoid unrealistic scheduling practices.
The DOT defines a flight as chronically delayed if it is operated at least 10 times a month and arrives over 30 minutes late more than half the time. The DOT disclosed that it is conducting ongoing investigations into other airlines for similar issues with unrealistic flight schedules.
JetBlue responded in a statement, emphasizing the need for the government to enhance the staffing of air traffic controllers and modernize the system, echoing sentiments expressed by executives at Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and other major carriers. JetBlue expressed that while a settlement has been reached regarding the four flights in question from 2022 and 2023, they believe that ensuring reliable air travel also rests with the U.S. government, which oversees the nation’s air traffic control system.
JetBlue, headquartered in New York, operates in some of the world’s busiest airspace. From January to September 2024, JetBlue ranked ninth out of 10 U.S. airlines in on-time arrivals, with 71.3% of flights arriving punctually, an improvement over the 64.9% recorded in the same period the previous year, according to a monthly DOT report.
The DOT mentioned that it would credit JetBlue $1 million of the fine for goodwill compensation already provided to passengers during the investigation period, as well as for compensation that is due within a year of the order, in the form of vouchers to affected passengers valued at a minimum of $75.
