JetBlue Fined $2 Million for Chronically Delayed Flights
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined JetBlue Airways $2 million for chronically delayed flights, the first penalty of its kind. The airline was found to have operated four routes with flights delayed at least 145 times from June 2022 to November 2023.
The affected routes were between JetBlue’s home hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, and between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut. JetBlue was responsible for more than 70% of the disruptions on these routes, according to the DOT.
The DOT considers a flight chronically delayed if it is flown at least 10 times a month and arrives over 30 minutes late more than half the time. The department has ongoing investigations into other airlines for unrealistic flight schedules.
In a statement, JetBlue called for the government to do more to improve staffing of air traffic controllers and modernize the air traffic control system, echoing calls from executives at Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
While the airline has agreed to settle the matter regarding the four flights in 2022 and 2023, it believes accountability for reliable air travel lies with the US government, which operates the nation’s air traffic control system. The airline urged the incoming administration to prioritize modernizing outdated ATC technology and addressing chronic air traffic controller staffing shortages to reduce delays that affect millions of air travelers each year.