United Airlines Holdings, Inc.

The U.S. Department of Transportation assessed United Airlines a $1.9 million civil penalty in September 2021 for violations involving lengthy tarmac delays. DOT found that United failed to comply with federal tarmac-delay requirements involving 20 domestic flights and five international flights at airports across the United States. Federal rules generally prohibit airlines from allowing domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours, and international flights for more than four hours, without providing passengers an opportunity to deplane, subject to limited safety and security exceptions. According to DOT, United allowed the affected flights to remain on the tarmac beyond the applicable limits without giving passengers an opportunity to leave the aircraft. The Department also found that United failed to maintain sufficient resources to properly implement its contingency plan for lengthy tarmac delays. DOT assessed a $1.9 million civil penalty and ordered United to cease and desist from similar future violations. The Department described the case as involving violations of federal tarmac-delay and aviation consumer-protection requirements. Primary source: U.S. Department of Transportation — United Airlines Consent Order 2021-9-21: https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/united-airlines-consent-order-2021-9-21