Wed, Mar 05, 2003
$1.2 Million Fine Won't Go To DoT
The
U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the issuance of an
order reflecting a settlement with American Airlines regarding the
carrier's treatment of air travelers with disabilities. The order
finds that American has violated the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)
and federal regulations regarding wheelchair service required to be
provided to disabled air travelers. It also assesses a civil
penalty of $1.2 million for these violations.
According to the terms of the settlement, American is ordered to
cease and desist from future violations of DOT's rules prohibiting
discrimination against passengers with disabilities. The settlement
allows American to use all but $100,000 of the $1.2 million penalty
toward specified activities to improve the carrier's services to
persons with disabilities.
"I believe today as I believed over a decade ago
as a co-author of the Americans with Disabilities Act that
accessibility in transportation is a civil right," Secretary Mineta
(right) said. "The U.S. Department of Transportation is
committed to increasing mobility for all Americans, particularly
those with disabilities."
The department's Aviation Enforcement Office launched an
investigation of American's compliance with the ACAA's requirements
regarding wheelchair service based on formal and informal
complaints the department received. The formal complaint, which was
filed in March 2000, involved an air traveler alleging that
American violated the ACAA and the department's rules when it
failed to provide her the wheelchair assistance she requested and
when it failed to make a complaint resolution official available to
her as required by law.
The
Aviation Enforcement Office's review of the complaints received by
the carrier and by DOT revealed a significant number of apparent
violations by American, including instances of prolonged delays in
obtaining wheelchairs, and passengers being left alone in
wheelchairs or aboard aircraft for extended periods of time. In
addition, the office found that American failed to comply with the
requirement for providing a proper written response to complainants
in a number of instances.
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