In this July 17, 2019 file photo American Airlines planes are parked on the tarmac at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP)
The Department of Transportation said Monday it had fined American Airlines more than $4 million for keeping passengers on the tarmac during long delays.
The fine was handed down for dozens of instances of the airline unlawfully not letting passengers deplane during delays that lasted three hours or longer.
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The penalty is the largest since the department changed its rules about tarmac delays about a decade ago.
“This is the latest action in our continued drive to enforce the rights of airline passengers,” 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.”
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The department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found 43 domestic flights between 2018 and 2021 where the airline did not let passengers deplane. A total of 5,821 passengers were affected.
An American Airlines, Inc. Airbus SE A321 aircraft takes off as a Boeing Co. 777-300ER taxis on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on July 6, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Most of the delays occurred at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
The investigation also uncovered one flight where passengers were not given food or water during the delay, as required by department rules.
None of the flights met the safety and security requirements needed to keep passengers aboard during lengthy delays.
The department said that half of the fine would be credited to the airline for previously providing compensation to affected passengers.
“While these delays were the result of exceptional weather events, the flights represent a very small number of the 7.7 million flights during this time period,” American Airlines said in a statement. “We have since apologized to the impacted customers and regret any inconvenience caused.”
The fine comes several months after winter weather affected air travel nationwide, leading to mass delays and cancelations during the holidays. The department has proposed new rules that would require airlines to provide compensation for meals, hotels and rebooking when passengers are stranded by the airlines.