US: Airlines fined up to $550K for disabilities complaints

Three European airlines – Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa – were penalized up to a combined $550,000 for dealing improperly with complaints from disabled travelers, the US DoT announced Thursday. The cases involved the airlines not following US rules for responding to numerous complaints received from 2012 to 2015. The airlines were supposed to either admit or deny that they violated rules for dealing with disabled travelers. Then the airlines were supposed to advise travelers how to ask the DoT to investigate. But Air France and British Airways each failed to summarise the facts of the complaints, explicitly admit or deny violations, or advise travelers to pursue enforcement with the department. Lufthansa also didn’t tell their passengers about the option for a department investigation, and instead referred them to an attachment called “Travel Tips” with department contact information. “When air travelers file complaints with airlines, they deserve prompt and complete responses that appropriately answer their specific concerns,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. Each of the airlines responded that they take their responsibilities seriously to comply with US policies for travellers with disabilities. The airlines each agreed to penalties, although they will be paid in different ways.<br/>