American Airlines Fined for Tarmac Delays

The United States Transportation Department (USDOT) has fined American Airlines $4.1 million, the largest-ever penalty for violating the tarmac delay rule. An investigation found that between 2018 and 2021, American Airlines allowed 43 domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for extended periods without giving passengers the opportunity to deplane. One flight even failed to provide food and water. The tarmac delays affected a total of 5,821 passengers. American Airlines claimed that these delays were due to exceptional weather events and represented less than 0.001% of their total flights. The airline has apologized to affected customers and stated that it has made efforts to improve its performance on tarmac delays.