United Airlines has been hit with a $1.9 million fine by the U.S. Transportation Department for surpassing federal limits on long tarmac delays.
It relates to violations on 25 flights which stayed on the tarmac for hours without allowing passengers to disembark.
It affected a total of 3,218 passengers and was the largest fine dished out by the US DOT for tarmac delays, the department said.
The department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection found violations between December 2015 and February 2021on 20 domestic flights and five international flights
Apart from some exceptions, planes stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours must allow passengers to deplane.
The tarmac delay rule began in 2010 for domestic flights and was expanded to international flights a year later.
United was also ordered to cease and desist from future violations.
