The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) slapped down a hefty $2 million penalty on Delta Air Lines on Thursday for failing to meet federal rules concerning passengers with disabilities.
The record fine is the biggest ever imposed on an airline for a non-safety violation.
According to the DOT, Delta failed to provide assistance to disabled passengers on and off their airplanes in multiple instances in 2007 and 2008.
The carrier was criticized by federal regulators for leaving wheelchair passengers unattended for more than 15 minutes on planes and more than 30 minutes alone in airport terminals.
The government also found Delta frequently did not respond adequately to complaints from disabled passengers.
Delta, which is the world’s second-largest carrier, did not admit to any wrongdoing and chose to settle the case with the DOT. The company was also fined $1.3 million in 2003 for its treatment of disabled passengers.
Delta will have to pay $750,000 in fines, and must invest an additional $1.22 million in a wheelchair tracking system, customer service surveys and compliance audits.
Delta has stated that it has already spent a significant amount prior to the fine to improve its services. The airline has vowed to continue to coordinate with regulators to improve conditions for disabled passengers.
Disability advocates are hailing the DOT decision, saying that it is a wake-up call to all airlines. Advocates hope that the fine will bring attention to the needs of disabled passengers and prompt other airlines to improve their services.
The airlines were at odds with disabled passengers in several instances last year. In November, a group of blind passengers filed a class-action lawsuit against United Airlines, charging that the airline’s airport kiosks violated disability laws.
And in October of last year, US Airways created controversy when it booted a disability advocate with cerebral palsy for being “too disabled to fly.”
Ironically, after being escorted off the US Airways plane, the disability advocate booked a flight with Delta and arrived to his destination without incident.
By Adriana Padilla at PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: Reuters, AOL News, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com:
- Accessible Travel section
- Too Disabled To Fly? US Airways Boots Disabled Traveler
- Accessible travel: The Basics of Wheelchair Travel
- Blind Travelers Sue United Over Failure To Provide Accessible Kiosks
- Travel Tip: A Disability Rights Milestone & Accessible Travel Resources
- Updated Travel Law Improves Accessibility For Disabled & Handicapped Travelers
