Washington, D.C. — In response to news that the U.S. Department of Transportation has fined American Airlines $4.1 million for violating federal statutes and DOT rules after not allowing passengers to deplane during tarmac delays of three hours or more on domestic flights, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.

“This historic fine, the largest ever issued for tarmac delay violations, shows that DOT is getting serious about protecting the rights of airline passengers,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation and Travel at the American Economic Liberties Project. “For too long, even the largest airlines have treated passengers like cattle and faced minimal repercussions, despite DOT tarmac rules that have been in place for over a decade. Following new proposed rules on compensation requirements earlier this year, along with a strong show of support for the Justice Department’s challenge against the JetBlue-Spirit merger, we’re pleased to see DOT stand up for passengers in the midst of a busy summer travel season.”

In this case, it was inexcusable that American Airlines stranded 5,821 passengers on a total of 43 flights between 2018 and 2021 during the last Administration, and this speaks to the need for DOT to remain vigilant, particularly in the wake of Delta Air Lines’ horrific tarmac delay in Las Vegas last month.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.