The Department of Transportation wants to prevent a repeat of last year’s chaos.
It feels like so much has happened since the 2022 vacation travel time of year came and went , but even if it experience like a tenner ago , the effect still bear relevance today . TheDepartment of Transportationjust announced that one particular result from that time is not part of the forget past . Last wintertime , a serial publication of functional failure from Southwest Airlines caused 16,900 flights to becanceledand result in more than 2 million citizenry being run aground over Christmas and New Year ’s .
The Department of Transportation announced that they are file a $ 140 million civil penalty against Southwest interrelate to violations of consumer protection legal philosophy . This penalty is historic ; it is 30 times larger than any other old superman penalty for these kinds of infraction .
" Today ’s legal action pose a new precedent and commit a clear message : if airway flush it their rider , we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable , " said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg , in a statement shared with Thrillist . " take care of rider is not just the veracious thing to do — it ’s expect , and this penalty should put all airlines on posting to take every step possible to check that a meltdown like this never happens again . "
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The penalisation fine keep up an extensive probe , which find that Southwest commit the following violations :
In response to these matter , the DOT has established a multi - pronged necessity for Southwest to direct the problem , including :
The US Department of Treasury will welcome $ 35 million from the $ 140 million punishment , as well . Another reason for such a significant penalty ? The DOT is hoping to discourage other airlines from take over standardized issue in the future .
For its part , Southwest has ensured that it will not be responsible for for a repetition of the 2022 chaos . CEO Bob Jordan order CNN last week " it will never come about again " as the incident prompted the airline business to invest in raw applied science and other strategy to avoid a similar outcome .
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