US waives $11m fine for Southwest Airlines over 2022 holiday meltdown

The Guardian - World NewsEN 1 min read 100% complete by ReutersDecember 6, 2025 at 10:09 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

The US government is waiving an $11 million fine against Southwest Airlines, part of a larger $140 million settlement stemming from the airline's December 2022 holiday travel meltdown. The original settlement, reached in December 2023, included a $35 million cash fine and $90 million in travel vouchers for affected passengers. The fine was levied due to Southwest's handling of the meltdown, which stranded over 2 million passengers. The Department of Transportation cited Southwest's decision to invest over $1 billion in operational improvements to enhance performance and reliability as the reason for waiving the remaining portion of the fine, which was due by the end of January.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump 40% United States ×270% Southwest Airlines ×680%

Keywords

airline meltdown 90% southwest airlines 80% fine waiver 70% travel vouchers 60% passenger delays 60% airline performance 50% transportation department 50% settlement 40%