The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Wednesday fined British Airways $135,000 for a runway delay in 2017 when it failed to ensure passengers disembarked on time, Reuters reported.
As part of the settlement, the airline, which is owned by IAG, agreed to pay a fine and refrain from similar violations in the future.
The USDOT said British Airways must pay $67,500 within 30 days and the rest within a year if the airline violates the order.
USDOT said the penalty was related to a December 2017 flight from Austin, Texas, to London, which left passengers stuck on the runway in bad weather for more than four hours, unable to get off the plane.
British Airways told USDOT that the delay was caused by the anti-icing truck running out of fluid.
The company said it did not believe the incident warranted enforcement action by USDOT, but “in the interest of resolving this proceeding” agreed to the settlement.
In January, the USDOT said it plans to increase fines for airlines and other companies that violate consumer protection rules, saying they are necessary to prevent future violations.
Under the 2011 rule, airlines are prohibited from allowing domestic flights to take off for more than three hours and international flights for more than four hours at US airports, preventing passengers from disembarking.
Source: Hot News
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