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U.S. fines Southwest Airlines $1.6 million over runway delays
The U.S. government on Thursday fined Southwest Airlines Co $1.6 million in what it said was the biggest civil penalty levied against an airline for violating rules barring long waits for passengers in planes on the runway. The Department of Transportation said Southwest had failed to abide by the rules last January when 16 of its aircraft were delayed on the tarmac at Chicago Midway International Airport. Passengers were not given the chance to get off the planes after three hours, and the… (www.reuters.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
It is bothersome to me that the government fines the COMPANY for it's contrary or adverse reactions against people and gives nothing to the people that were harmed or otherwise maligned. No government fine of any type goes to the people or entity that was harmed. This money, when it is paid, would be much appreciated by those involved. In actuality, all they have to do if they want fine money is to direct ATC to hold somebody, knowing they probably can't go back to the gate. I don't think they do this, just sayin' that the potential is there.
preacher1: you are sitting in the pointy end in a holding area(possibly made of tarmac) and the clock is running out. You are at 2:45 waiting to go and ATC says maybe 15-20 minutes more. Your call. Do you wait it out or do you go back to the gate. I know people who had their flight go back to the gate twice because the clock ran out.
I full well understand; I guess the main thing is why I am waiting, wx or traffic or mix of both. Been thru all of it. What I really hate is going into a hub after a ground stop and traffic is backed up a country mile. We were 90/135 so I really didn't have the fine to contend with but I generally had an impatient CEO in the back. LOL
In a perfect world there would be no fines because airlines would discover a way to get people off the frickin' plane. I avoid parking in the handicapped spot because I don't want to give this fair city my money. Even if I hated handicapped people I'd still find somewhere else to put my car. Raise the fines, I say. Maybe they'll figure it out.
It's amazing that airlines are still doing this. The idea that there is no way to get paying customers (human beings, mind you) off of a stationary airplane within several hours is, well, amazing.
Maybe it's a matter of liability? If there are no gates available, it would be a nightmare herding all of the passengers directly from wherever the plane is waiting, back to the terminal. There would probably always be someone who would feel the urge to wander off. Although I suppose they could have them file directly onto a shuttle. Just hazarding a guess here.
I understand, but there is always something to be done. I'm not saying it's a peachy situation for the airlines, but come on. Locking people in a metal tube for the sake of convenience seems borderline criminal if you ask me.
Too bad. How is that the passenger's problem? If a carrier is not prepared to fly, the passengers should be released from the aircraft. it is up to the carrier to make sure the pax remain near the gate. If the pax wander off and miss their flight, that is their problem. They can rebook at the normal charges.