The U. S. Department of Transportation fined American Eagle Airlines $900,000 for lengthy tarmac delays.
The fines stem from delays at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on May 29, according to the feds. They mark the first fine for a violation federal rules that took effect in April 2010 and also represent the largest penalty against an airline in a consumer protection case that doesn’t involve civil rights violations, according to the Department of Transportation.
“We put the tarmac rule in place to protect passengers, and we take any violation very seriously,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a news release. “We will work to ensure that airlines and airports coordinate their resources and plans to avoid keeping passengers delayed on the tarmac.”
Under DOT rules, U.S. airlines operating aircraft with at least 30 passenger seats can not keep a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours at large-, medium-, small- and non-hub U.S. airports without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane. There are exceptions allowed for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons, according to the rules.
The rules require carriers to include the three-hour provision in their tarmac delay contingency plan commitments to passengers, according to the DOT.
