Southwest Airlines Has Been Fined $140 Million Over 2022 Flight Disruptions
Southwest Airlines is facing a major fine after the Transportation Department found that the airline was responsible for significant flight disruptions in 2022 that resulted in almost 17,000 significantly delayed or canceled flights.
The civil penalty is 30 times larger than any prior penalty for consumer protection violations. Most of the payment will go towards paying future Southwest passengers affected by delays or cancelations caused by the airline.
Photo: Boston.com
That sum will be in addition to $600 million in refunds and reimbursements Southwest has already given passengers.
“We are announcing a historic enforcement action,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told NBC News. “Southwest left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded a year ago, two million passengers total were affected.”
Photo: NY Post
“It was a record disruption and now it’s leading to a record penalty. $35 million in cash as well as vouchers for the next three years going to other passengers who might face delays traveling on Southwest,” Buttigieg explained.
Sending a Message
According to Buttigieg, the fine will not only hold Southwest accountable but it will send a message to other airlines.
Photo: Thrifty Traveler
“The total value of this enforcement action is $140 million. Enough to not only hold southwest accountable, but to send a message to the industry not to cut corners, not to take chances that anything like this could ever happen and again, make the investments now, make sure you take good care of your passengers.”
“Otherwise, we will be there to hold you accountable,” he warned.
Southwest Violated Consumer Protection Laws
After a nearly yearlong investigation, the Transportation Department found that Southwest violated a number of consumer protection laws. These transgressions included failing to provide proper customer service, prompt flight status notifications, and giving refunds in a prompt or proper manner.
Customers wait for a Southwest flight. Photo: Yahoo finance
“Today’s action sets a new precedent and sends a clear message: if airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable,” Buttigieg said in a written statement earlier. “Taking care of passengers is not just the right thing to do — it’s required, and this penalty should put all airlines on notice to take every step possible to ensure that a meltdown like this never happens again.”
Southwest Responds
Following today’s announcement, Southwest released a statement saying that it “is committed to delivering the highest standard of excellence in Customer Service.”
Photo: CNBC
The airline said it was “pleased’ to reach the settlement “which includes a new, industry-leading policy to compensate Customers during significant delays and cancellations.”
Following last year’s holiday season meltdown, Southwest says that it has made drastic changes to its Customer Experience.
A Southwest plane. Photo: CNN Business
We have spent the past year acutely focused on efforts to enhance the Customer Experience with significant investments and initiatives that accelerate operational resiliency, enhance cross-team collaboration and bolster overall preparedness for winter operations,” Bob Jordan, Southwest president and CEO, said in a statement.
Southwest Airlines. Photo Credit: USAToday.com,
“Our commitment to Customers has been central to our success across our 52-year history and has helped us become one of the world’s most admired and trusted airlines.”
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon! Also, thanks for reading!
