The Biden administration has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, accusing the Texas-based carrier of illegally operating chronically delayed flights and disrupting passengers’ travel. The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) and the Justice Department jointly filed the civil suit in a Northern California court, targeting two Southwest flights in 2022—one between Chicago Midway and Oakland, and another between Baltimore and Cleveland—that frequently arrived over 30 minutes late.
USDOT defines “chronically delayed” flights as those operating at least 10 times a month and arriving late more than 50% of the time. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the lawsuit highlights the department’s commitment to enforcing passenger rights.
Southwest, which has flown over 20 million flights without similar violations since 2009, expressed disappointment with the lawsuit, calling the claims about unrealistic schedules “not credible.” The airline pointed to its industry-leading 99% on-time performance in 2024 and emphasized its commitment to reliable service.
The lawsuit follows other recent USDOT actions against airlines. In December 2023, Southwest agreed to provide $90 million in travel vouchers for delays exceeding three hours during its 2022 holiday disruptions. Frontier Airlines was fined $650,000 for operating delayed flights, while JetBlue Airways faced a $2 million penalty for similar violations.
USDOT is now exploring whether to mandate cash compensation for delays or cancellations caused by airlines. As passenger protections tighten, Southwest Airlines and other carriers face growing scrutiny over their scheduling practices.
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