According to government officials, Frontier Airlines and four international carriers to return more than $600 million to travelers whose travels have been postponed or considerably delayed as a result of the pandemic.
The same airlines were also hit with a $7 million fine, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, for breaking consumer protection laws by delaying refunds for so long.The biggest American airlines, who received the majority of refund complaints, escaped fines, and a representative said no other American airlines are under investigation for potential fines.When the airlines cancelled a large number of flights after the pandemic hit the U.S., customers inundated the agency with thousands of complaints about the inability to get compensation. It was by far the most common complaint type . Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, is returning $222 million and paying a $2.2 million civil penalty, according to the government.The Transportation Department announced that TAP Portugal would refund $126.5 million and pay a $1.1 million fine, Air India would pay $121.5 million in refunds and a $1.4 million fine, AeroMexico would pay $13.6 million and a $900,000 fine, Israel’s El Al would pay $61.9 million and a $900,000 fine, and Colombia’s Avianca would pay $76.8 million and a $750,000 fine.However, there won’t be any penalties for other U.S. airlines because they replied shortly after the Transportation Department informed them in April 2020 of their duty to provide prompt reimbursements, according to Blane Workie, the Office of Aviation Consumer Protections’ assistant general counselWhat are your thoughts on this? Comment below.
