Southwest Airlines reaches $140 million settlement for December 2022 flight-canceling meltdown
ABC News
Southwest Airlines is paying a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement with the government over a meltdown last holiday season
DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million agreement to settle a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.
Most of the settlement will go toward compensating future passengers, which the U.S. Department of Transportation considers an incentive for Southwest to avoid repeating last winter's mess.
The government said the assessment was the largest it has ever imposed on an airline for violating consumer protection laws.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the settlement demonstrates his agency's resolve to make airlines take care of their passengers.
“This penalty should put all airlines on notice to take every step possible to ensure that a meltdown like this never happens again,” he said.
