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 - 11:53 / thepointsguy.com / Pete Buttigieg
The Biden administration is slapping American Airlines with a record-setting punishment, criticizing the carrier's treatment of passengers who use wheelchairs for mobility devices — and their essential equipment.
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced a $50 million penalty against American.
As part of an agreement, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier will have to pay a $25 million fine to the federal government. It will also be required to invest an additional $25 million in improving the passenger experience for travelers with disabilities, from its interactions to infrastructure that helps employees handle mobility devices.
The DOT-imposed penalties come after the department revealed it uncovered "numerous serious violations" of passenger rights laws between 2019 and 2023.
During that time, the DOT said that American mishandled thousands of wheelchairs and repeatedly failed to offer prompt wheelchair assistance. Investigators also found a litany of unsafe or undignified treatment of disabled passengers that, in some cases, led to injuries.
"The bottom line is that the era of tolerating the poor treatment of wheelchair users on airplanes is over. Breaking a passenger's wheelchair or treating them in an undignified or unsafe manner is not just wrong, it is illegal, and that's why we're taking historic action here," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on a call with reporters.
In a statement to TPG Wednesday, American said it "has a longstanding commitment to serving passengers with disabilities." The carrier fielded more than 8 million requests for wheelchair assistance in 2023, the airline added, with just 0.1% of those cases resulting in a complaint.
In announcing the steep penalties against American, the DOT acknowledged the carrier is not alone.
The DOT Office of Aviation Consumer Protection has multiple active investigations into other U.S. carriers.
"While American Airlines appeared to be one of the worst offenders, the problems we have uncovered in our investigation are not confined to one airline," Buttigieg said.
However, DOT officials said that American, between 2019 and 2023, ranked near the top of several key complaint categories, from lack of prompt wheelchair assistance to mishandled mobility devices.
The DOT specifically pointed to a series of complaints filed against American by the nonprofit Paralyzed Veterans of America, a longtime advocate for disabled passengers in commercial air travel.
The department highlighted, as a high-profile example, a 2023 social media post that appeared to show a wheelchair careening down a luggage ramp before toppling violently onto the ground in Miami — a case Buttigieg, at the time, described as "totally unacceptable" on
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.
Spirit Airlines said Thursday that it entered a commitment to sell 23 Airbus A320s and A321s in a deal valued at approximately $519 million as it looks for ways to shore up its liquidity.
The Biden administration is launching a wide-ranging probe into the state of air travel in the U.S.
American Airlines reported a loss of $149 million for the third quarter as it continues to deal with the fall out of its distribution strategy.
A federal jury in Texas decided American Airlines can recover $9.4 million in damages from “hidden city” ticket platform Skiplagged, which continues to offer the airline’s tickets at steep discounts.
One of my biggest pet peeves when I am flying is people who cannot follow the rules when it comes to boarding (and disembarking, for that matter). I was thrilled to see that American Airlines is on my side and is testing a new boarding process technology that will crack down on people who try to board earlier than their assigned boarding group.
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.
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.
Skiplagged.com said it will still offer customers a way to book a popular travel hack despite a court partly siding with an airline in a lawsuit against the company.
If you hold elite status with Delta Air Lines, United Airlines or Southwest Airlines, American Airlines is offering to match your status for at least four months so you can earn status in a different loyalty program without having to start from scratch.
Have some extra American Airlines AAdvantage miles to spare?
American Airlines is testing a new system to make sure travelers board with their designated groups.