U.S. fines Southwest Airlines $1.6 million over runway delays

It is bothersome to me that the government fines the COMPANY for it's contrary or adverse reactions against people and gives nothing to the people that were harmed or otherwise maligned. No government fine of any type goes to the people or entity that was harmed. This money, when it is paid, would be much appreciated by those involved. In actuality, all they have to do if they want fine money is to direct ATC to hold somebody, knowing they probably can't go back to the gate. I don't think they do this, just sayin' that the potential is there.

It's amazing that airlines are still doing this. The idea that there is no way to get paying customers (human beings, mind you) off of a stationary airplane within several hours is, well, amazing.

I don't blame pax for wanting off. Every airport should have portable stairs available so pax who want off can do so at the 3 hr mark. Most travelers are capable of using stairs instead of a jetbridge or escalator. It is not entirely just the airlines fault. Crappy airport management is equally at fault. Holding able bodied people hostage is ridiculous.

What gets me on any of the airline fines like this is that all the money goes to the DOT and nothing to the pax.

I suggest the fines should be divided and paid directly to the passengers affected that were forced to sit in the airplane. Maybe we wouldn't be so upset...

This is indicative of a much larger issue at both MDW and ORD and probably won't be the last fine we see at either airport this year. The sad thing is, what did SWA or DoT do to compensate all the poor souls enduring the fart fiesta for over 3 hours without being let off? I'd be more interested in making passengers whole than I would fattening up a bloated governmental department.

Very hard to believe that these SWA aircraft actually spent hours sitting ON the runway. Probably parked on the ramp or on a taxiway.

I'll take everyone's word for SWA not being popular among you. But Ive flown SWA quite a bit this past year (mainly because of the free checked baggage) and have absolutely no complaints. Flights have been on time or early every time. This past weekend I flew with a broken ankle and fractured sternum, and received the absolutely best treatment I could have asked for. My travel companion and I were boarded first both ways and every employee couldn't have been nicer. I'll continue flying SWA.

I'm with Preacher on the fines. I hate that it merely goes to the government. This just incentivises them to make the fines more frequent and steeper.

There should be an alternative to return some portion to passengers less the FAA's actual administrative cost for review. But, good luck with that. There's no such thing as a refund from government without other costs attached and there is no sunshine to fees and taxes.

They obviously weren't waiting "on the runway".....and, it's called the "Ramp".....NOT tarmac!!!!

I have just read the rest of the blurb from Reuters which has us think, at least initially, that the aircraft concerned were on the runway which would have been interesting.
It would appear that the airline 'failed to abide by the rules'.
I take it that means that CMIA airport management advised SWA that due to no parking space being available they were not permitted to dispatch flights to that destination? Aside from genuine emergencies etc, is this a common problem in the US?

Good. Being trapped( Imprisoned) on an aircraft because of stupid policies should result not only result in fines to the airline, but a full credit for every passenger on board.
These Carriers must be taught a lesson that they cannot treat people this way