Jetstar Airways is an Australian discount airline that began flying between Sydney, Melbourne and Honolulu in late 2006. The Transportation Department requires the airline to file an annual report detailing disability-related complaints, which it did for 2007 — this January.
The penalty for filing its report a year late? A whopping $30,000.
Seriously.
From the consent order, which was sent Oct. 17.
While the Department’s records indicate that Jetstar timely submitted its report detailing disability-related complaints received from passengers for calendar year 2008,3 Jetstar did not submit its report for calendar year 2007 until January 23, 2009, approximately one year late.
Therefore, Jetstar violated section 382.70 and the ACAA when it did not submit its report detailing disability-related complaints that it received in calendar year 2007 on flights originating or terminating in the United States in a timely manner.
What does Jetstar have to say for itself?
Jetstar notes that 2007 was essentially the first year for which Jetstar owed a report of disability-related complaints. Jetstar explains that as a new entrant to the U.S. market, its failure to file the report for 2007 was a one-time administrative oversight. Jetstar states that it has now implemented procedures to ensure the timely filing of future reports.
The DOT isn’t buying it. It socked Jetstar with a $30,000 fine, half of which will be forgiven if it doesn’t repeat. The Feds say it could have been worse:
Since Jetstar operated to and from the United States for the last 6 days of 2006, it should have also filed a disability-related complaint report for that year by January 29, 2007. It did not; however, because of the short period of time in question and the action being taken here, separate action will not be taken regarding the required 2006 report.
So what’s going on here? I think the department doesn’t want to appear soft on airlines that break the rules, no matter how small the rule — or the airline.
I have a feeling there’s more to come. Lots more.
(Photo: Simon_sees/Flickr Creative Commons)
✓ Get the latest travel news, tips and commentary from Elliott’s E-Mail, the subversive newsletter from industry gadfly Christopher Elliott. You’ll travel like a pro. Sign up here. It’s free.
Sign up for my 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
“no matter how small the rule?” This is not a “small” rule. Reporting disability-related complaints is essential to the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in the context of air travel. It’s not like they filed it three days late. ONE YEAR. One wonders if this airline takes seriously the rights and needs of people with disabilities.
I think 30K for airlines is actually not that bad. It’s like 30 passengers from AUS to the USA. Moreover, their planes cost a lot more…
6 days?! It operated in the US for the last 6 days of 2006 and needed to submit a report for those 6 days?! Two thoughts:
1) The airline should have been prepared for this report before it even started business in 2006. I mean, how long could this report have been with only 6 days worth of business? One would hope that in those 6 days there wasn’t even one report. After all, it was a new route and you would think the airline would be trying to make a good impression.
OR
2) The airline should have started business on Jan 1, 2007.