The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has dropped a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines that was filed in January 2025, according to a report by Reuters on May 16.
The lawsuit, supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, accused Southwest of operating unrealistic flight schedules for five months in 2022. These schedules reportedly led to consistent delays and disrupted passengers’ travel plans. The government claimed this violated federal rules and sought civil penalties against the airline.
The delays in question involved two specific flight routes—one between Chicago Midway and Oakland, California, and another between Baltimore and Cleveland. According to USDOT regulations, a flight is labeled “chronically delayed” if it is scheduled at least ten times per month and arrives more than 30 minutes late at least 50% of the time.
In its defense, Southwest noted that it had flown over 20 million flights without any other similar violations. The airline emphasized that the two delayed routes occurred during a difficult period for the aviation industry, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The two flights at issue occurred years ago when the industry faced unprecedented challenges… and were delayed due to issues outside of Southwest’s control in numerous cases,” the airline said in a statement.
In 2023, Southwest launched a passenger compensation program, offering $90 million in travel vouchers. Each voucher was worth $75 or more and was given to passengers who faced delays of three hours or longer due to problems caused by the airline.
While the USDOT has not issued an official comment on the case’s dismissal, the agency has continued to pursue penalties against other carriers. Under the Biden administration in 2025, two additional airlines were fined for operating chronically delayed flights.
Frontier Airlines was ordered to pay $650,000, with $325,000 due immediately. The remaining amount would be waived if the airline avoids further violations over the next three years.
JetBlue Airways received a $2 million penalty. The airline paid $1 million upfront and committed to giving passengers at least $75 in vouchers for future delays of three hours or more, or cancellations caused by the airline.
The dropped case against Southwest highlights the government’s broader effort to enforce accountability among airlines for long delays, while also recognizing the unique challenges posed by the pandemic era.
Related topics:
- Delta Air Lines Renames Fare Classes and Eases Booking Experience
- TAP Air Portugal Launches Three New U.S. Routes, Expanding Transatlantic Access
- Universal Orlando Unveils Epic Universe Vacation Packages for 2026