2LT International News

WASHINGTON D.C.: The United States Transportation Department (USDOT) has fined American Airlines $4.1 million for unlawfully holding thousands of passengers inside grounded aircraft for hours.

Of the $4.1 million, the largest-ever penalty for violating passenger rules, $2.05 million will be credited to the airline for compensation provided to affected passengers.

An extensive investigation by its Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found that between 2018 and 2021, American violated the department’s tarmac delay rule by allowing 43 domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for lengthy periods without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane, the USDOT said.

Most delays occurred at Dallas Fort Worth Airport, and passengers were sometimes not provided with food and water as required, it added, noting that the delays affected 5,821 passengers.

“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers. Whether the issue is extreme tarmac delays or problems getting refunds, DOT will continue to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, in a statement.

The delays were largely due to weather events, and the flights represented less than 0.001 percent of its some 7.7 million flights from 2018 to 2021, American told the USDOT.

“We have since apologized to the impacted customers and regret any inconvenience caused,” the airline said.

While accepting this compromise settlement, “American respectfully disagrees that certain of these tarmac delays warrant enforcement action under the extreme circumstances presented,” it added.

In 2016, American Airlines was fined a then-record matching $1.6 million by the department for allowing some domestic flights to remain on the tarmac without giving passengers the opportunity to get off the planes.