DOT TARMAC DELAY CONSENT ORDER
September 7, 2015
Spirit Airlines, Inc. was fined $100,000 for violating the Department’s tarmac delay rules, 14 C.F.R. Part 259 and 49 U.S.C. § 41712 and 42301. On July 17, 2014, a Spirit flight was diverted to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) while en route from Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) due to severe weather at DFW. The aircraft was parked at a hardstand at IAH for 2 hours and 42 minutes. The investigation revealed that 1 hour and 57 minutes into the delay, flight attendants began selling food and beverages to the passengers aboard the flight. The aircraft took off 51 minutes later – three hours and 38 minutes into the delay. Approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes later, when the aircraft reached 10,000 feet, flight attendants distributed the food and water that was part of Spirit’s tarmac delay kit. The investigation found passengers were not offered snacks within the required two hour mark.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com, 202-659-6665).