The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Nov. 14 announced “historic enforcement actions” against six airlines that have collectively been fined more than half a billion dollars for passengers who were owed a refund because of flight cancellations or changes.
Frontier, Aeromexico, Air India, TAP Portugal, El Al, and Avianca were required to pay about $600 million in refunds for flight issues.
DOT is also assessing whether the carriers must also pay a total of $7.25 million in fines for extreme delays in providing refunds.
Specifically, Frontier will pay out $222 million in required refunds and a $2.2 million penalty, Aeromexico will pay $13.6 million in refunds and a $900,000 penalty, Air India $121.5 million in refunds and a $1.4 million penalty, TAP Portugal was ordered to pay $126.5 million in refunds and a $1.1 million penalty, and El Al $61.9 million in refunds and a $900,000 penalty….