The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently fined American Airlines $4.1 million for violating federal statutes and a rule prohibiting tarmac delays of three hours or more on domestic flights without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane.
The department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) conducted an investigation and found that between 2018 and 2021, American allowed 43 domestic flights, affecting 5,821 passengers, to remain on the tarmac for lengthy periods without providing an opportunity to deplane.
There are exceptions to the tarmac delay rule, including safety and security exceptions, but none of these exceptions applied to the 43 flights. Most of the delays occurred at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
On one of the flights, passengers were not provided required food and water.
“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “Whether the issue is extreme tarmac delays or problems getting refunds, DOT will continue to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable.”
The $4.1 million fine is the largest civil penalty ever assessed for violating the DOT’s tarmac delay rule. A total of $2.05 million will be credited to the airline for compensation provided to passengers on the affected flights.