USDOT and Justice Department Sue Southwest Airlines

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), alongside the Department of Justice, has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines for operating two routes with 'chronically delayed flights' between April and August 2022, leading to 180 flight disruptions. The lawsuit claims that Southwest maintained unrealistic schedules, thus misleading consumers through deceptive practices, to which Southwest has expressed disappointment, arguing these incidents don't reflect its overall performance. Additionally, the USDOT fined Frontier Airlines $650,000 for similar issues, with half the fine suspended on the condition of avoiding future delays. This lawsuit is the first instance of the USDOT taking an airline to court over chronically delayed flights, highlighting the department's commitment to enforcing passenger protections. The case against Southwest follows recent penalties against JetBlue Airways for similar violations, as part of a broader enforcement effort by the Transportation Department against persistent flight delays.