Southwest Airlines canceled approximately 17,000 flights and issued over $600 million in refunds in 2022|Tomas Del Coro|CC BY-SA 2.0

The Department of Transportation (DOT) fined Southwest Airlines with a historic $140 million penalty for violating consumer protection laws during last year’s crippling winter chaos, which left two million passengers stranded.

The fine, 30 times larger than any previous such penalty, includes a $35 million cash payment to the government, payable over three years.

Additionally, the airline committed to distributing $90 million in vouchers for future travelers.

Southwest had a turbulent end to 2022. It canceled approximately 17,000 flights and issued over $600 million in refunds.

The fine sets a strong precedent for airlines. According to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, “If airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable.”