On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) filed a lawsuit in a San Francisco court against Southwest Airlines over “unlawful, chronic flight delays,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced in a Jan. 15 statement.

The DOT filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, citing a pattern of chronic delays, as the government pushes for stricter accountability.

A lawsuit filed against Southwest alleges the airline operated multiple “chronically delayed” flights affecting thousands of passengers.

Southwest is disappointed that DOT chose to file a lawsuit over two flights that occurred more than two years ago," a spokesperson for the airline said.

Southwest Airlines is being sued and Frontier Airlines fined over chronic flight delays by the Department of Transportation, the DOT announced Wednesday. Why it matters: Wednesday's announcement by the outgoing Biden administration's Transportation Secretary,

The Transportation Department said in a lawsuit that two of the airline’s routes were consistently delayed in violation of federal rules.

The Department of Transportation is suing Southwest Airlines, accusing it of operating two “chronically delayed flights” in 2022 that resulted in 180 flight disruptions.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said airlines have a legal obligation to ensure that their schedules list realistic departure and arrival times.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 approaches San Diego ... Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of passenger rights and fair competition in the airline industry, saying ...

The agency is seeking civil penalties against Southwest Airlines, and also fined Frontier Airlines for its continuous delays.

The Biden administration on Wednesday sued Southwest ... all airlines that the department is prepared to go to court in order to enforce passenger protections,” Transportation Secretary Pete ...

The Department of Transportation found that Southwest was responsible for 90% of the disruptions on two flights.