American Airlines has been fined $4.1 million by the United States Transportation Department (USDOT) for violating tarmac delay rules. This is the largest-ever penalty for breaking the rule. The airline will receive $2.05 million in credit for compensating passengers affected by delays.
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An investigation by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found that between 2018 and 2021, American Airlines allowed 43 domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for extended periods without allowing passengers to deplane. One of the flights did not provide food and water to passengers as required.
Most of the delays occurred at Dallas Fort Worth Airport, impacting a total of 5,821 passengers. The U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, said that the fine is part of the department's efforts to protect consumers and hold airlines accountable. American Airlines stated that these delays were due to exceptional weather conditions and represented less than 0.001% of their total flights during the period.
The airline apologized to the affected passengers and committed significant resources to improve its performance regarding tarmac delays. American Airlines respectfully disagrees with certain tarmac delays that warranted enforcement action. In 2016, USDOT fined American Airlines $1.6 million for similar violations. The department plans to seek higher penalties to deter future violations. Numerous airlines have been fined by the department in recent years, including British Airways, which was fined $135,000 for failing to ensure timely deplaning of passengers during a tarmac delay in 2017.