American Airlines Fined Record $4.1 Million For Excessive Tarmac Delays

American Airlines was fined $4.1 million by the Department of Transportation for tarmac delays exceeding 3 hours on 43 domestic flights between 2018-2021.
Over 5,800 passengers were affected, primarily at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport during severe weather events.
This is the largest fine ever imposed for violating rules prohibiting excessive tarmac delays without allowing passengers to deplane.
American Airlines says the delays accounted for a small fraction of their flights and cited investments to prevent future occurrences.
The airline received a $2.05 million credit for compensating impacted passengers but must still pay the remainder of the fine.