AirTran fined for treatment of disabled passengers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AirTran Airways faces a federal fine of up to $500,000 for violating rules on assistance for disabled passengers, though it can reduce the amount by making changes.
AirTran committed a number of violations of a requirement to assist disabled passengers from 2007 through mid-2009 and often did not provide an adequate written response to passenger complaints, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The agency said AirTran, which is based in Orlando and has its largest hub in Atlanta, also didn't properly categorize disability complaints in reports to the federal government.
Of the $500,000 civil penalty, AirTran can offset up to $140,000 by putting in a wheelchair tracking system at hub airports and up to $60,000 of it by establishing a council to help comply with federal disability rules and hiring a manager for disability accommodations. AirTran said it plans to do all of those things. It will put the wheelchair tracking system at its operations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Milwaukee and Orlando.
AirTran spokesman Christopher White said most of the complaints dealt with the timely availability of wheelchairs, but less than 0.5 percent of its passengers with disabilities have complained to the DOT or to the airline.
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