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NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday issued a $375,000 penalty against Delta Air Lines Inc., saying the world's largest carrier broke federal rules when it bumped passengers from oversold flights.
When a flight is oversold, DOT requires airlines to seek volunteers willing to give up their seats in exchange for some kind of compensation. If not enough volunteers can be found and the carrier must bump passengers involuntarily, the carrier is required to give bumped passengers a written statement describing their rights and explaining how it decides who will be bumped from an oversold flight.
In most cases, passengers bumped involuntarily also are entitled to cash compensation of up to $800, DOT said.
DOT said it waged the fine after tracking passenger complaint records from January to July 2008.
Shares of Atlanta-based Delta rose 7 cents to close at $5.75.
