The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently fined Frontier Airlines $1.5 million for long tarmac delays. The fine is the second highest for violating the DOT rule.
A portion of the fine, $900,000, will provide compensation to customers for their delayed flights.
Frontier allowed 12 domestic flights at Denver International Airport on the tarmac for more than three hours between Dec. 16 and Dec.18, 2016, during a snowstorm. Passengers were not given the opportunity to leave the plane.
According to a DOT rule, carriers must give passengers the opportunity to leave a domestic flight if the plane will remain on the tarmac for more than three hours. Carriers also must provide passengers with food, water, medical attention and keep all restrooms working.
Frontier failed to respond to the snowstorm by altering its operations, according to DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office’s investigation and did not divert flights to other airports.
The only exceptions to the rule are for air traffic control-related problems, security or safety.
The airline also was warned to avoid future violations of the rule ordered or risk additional fines.
The highest fine for violating the DOT’s tarmac delay rule was $1.6 million. It was levied twice, once in 2015 on Southwest Airlines and in 2016 on American Airlines.