"Southwest Airlines' $140M Settlement: A Step Towards Justice for Passengers"
Southwest Airlines has reached a historic $140 million civil penalty settlement with the U.S. Department of Transportation over last year's holiday travel chaos. As part of the settlement, Southwest will pay $35 million and provide vouchers to passengers who experienced delays of more than three hours for situations within the airline's control. This settlement is seen as an important victory for consumer protection and sends a message to the commercial aviation industry that passengers have rights. Despite the financial cost to Southwest, the real value of the agreement lies in holding airlines accountable and ensuring better treatment of stranded passengers in the future.