## American Airlines Faces Record Fine Over Long Flight Delays
American Airlines has been hit with the largest fine in history for keeping passengers waiting on board aircraft during protracted delays. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is imposing a hefty penalty of $4.1 million. The DOT described this as “the largest civil penalty that the Department has ever assessed” in a statement.
The fine is in response to extended tarmac delays of 43 flights, affecting over 5,800 passengers, which occurred between 2018 and 2021. The longest of these delays saw passengers stranded aboard a plane in Texas for an agonizing six hours and three minutes in August 2020. The plane, carrying 105 passengers, had been diverted from its original destination, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, due to severe weather conditions.
## Accusations of Insufficient Resources
The DOT alleges that “American lacked sufficient resources to appropriately handle several of these flights once they landed.” Federal regulations stipulate a maximum time limit that passengers can be held on an aircraft without the option to disembark. This limit is three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights. Additionally, airlines are required to provide passengers with water and a snack during such delays.
## American Airlines Responds to Penalties
In response to the penalties, American Airlines told CNN that the delays resulted from “exceptional weather events” and represented “a very small number of the 7.7 million flights during this time period.” The airline also added that it had invested in technology to better manage flights during severe weather and reduce congestion at airports.
Further, American Airlines stated, “These efforts are already providing significant benefits to our customers and team members, and we continue to look for innovative ways to further improve.” As for the fine, American Airlines would pay $2.05 million to the government. The company has been credited for paying the remaining amount in passenger compensation.
This unprecedented fine highlights the increasing scrutiny airlines are facing over their handling of severe weather disruptions and passenger inconveniences. It serves as a crucial reminder for airlines to ensure they have sufficient resources to deal with unexpected incidents and to prioritize passenger comfort and safety.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-28 20:02:00
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