The Department of Transportation (DOT) filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines on Wednesday, accusing the airline of causing chronic flight delays that have disrupted passengers’ travel plans.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed the department’s commitment to protecting passengers’ rights and ensuring fairness in the airline industry. “Airlines are legally required to provide realistic flight schedules. Today’s lawsuit signals that the Department is ready to take legal action to enforce these protections for travelers,” Buttigieg said in a statement.
The DOT’s lawsuit highlights two specific Southwest flights, which were involved in a total of 180 delays between April and August 2022. These flights traveled between Chicago Midway International Airport and Oakland, California, and between Baltimore and Cleveland.
