The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it would launch a “broad public inquiry” into the state of competition in air travel — the government’s second inquiry into the airline industry in just the past two months.
23.10.2024 - 10:19 / skift.com / Pete Buttigieg / Meghna Maharishi
The Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it would fine American Airlines $50 million for “numerous serious violations of the laws” that protect passengers with disabilities.
The fine is one of the largest an airline has received for such violations.
“Today’s penalty, which is 25 times larger than any previous U.S. DOT penalty for disability-related violations, is intended to set a new standard for our department to respond to these kinds of abuses,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a call with reporters.
From 2019 to 2023, the department said it found instances of unsafe physical assistance that had sometimes resulted in injuries. The DOT added that the investigation also found “undignified treatment of wheelchair users” and “repeated failures” to provide wheelchair assistance.
The carrier also mishandled thousands of wheelchairs, often damaging them or delaying their return to passengers, according to the DOT.
As part of the penalty, American has to pay $25 million to the Treasury Department. American will also be credited $25 million toward the total penalty to make investments in equipment to reduce incidents of wheelchair damage, a system-wide wheelchair tagging system, better coordinating wheelchair handling, and compensation to passengers affected during the timeframe of the DOT’s investigation.
If American does not make these investments, then it has to pay another $25 million to the U.S. Treasury.
The department said it has similar ongoing investigations at other airlines. Buttigieg said American was one of the “worst offenders” but the issues the DOT found in its investigation were not confined to one airline.
American said its wheelchair mishandling rate has improved. In September, the carrier reported a more than 36% decline in mishandled wheelchairs compared to two years ago.
“This year, American invested over $175 million in service, infrastructure and training to improve the travel experience for customers traveling with wheelchairs or other mobility devices,” said Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery. “Today’s agreement reaffirms American’s commitment to taking care of all our customers.”
In February, the DOT proposed a set of new rules to protect passengers with disabilities. These rules would make delaying the return of a wheelchair or mishandling it an automatic violation of federal law, making it easier for the DOT to enforce penalties.
The department also passed a rule in July requiring airlines to ensure their plane bathrooms were accessible to passengers with disabilities.
Traveling for passengers with disabilities has often been a frustrating experience since wheelchairs
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it would launch a “broad public inquiry” into the state of competition in air travel — the government’s second inquiry into the airline industry in just the past two months.
The Biden administration is launching a wide-ranging probe into the state of air travel in the U.S.
Oct 24, 2024 • 6 min read
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Saying that American Airlines mistreated disabled air travelers who use wheelchairs, the U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday announced a $50 million fine against the carrier. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the agency’s penalty the highest ever levied against an airline for violating protections for fliers with disabilities.
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