Delta Fined $2M For Violating Travel Rules For Disabled

The U.S. Department of Transportation levied a $2 million civil penalty against Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) for allegedly violating policy protecting air travelers with disabilities.

According to the agency, an investigation found "many violations of the requirement to provide assistance getting on and off the airplane." The airline carrier's complaint records also showed that it frequently "did not provide an adequate written response to disability complaints from passengers."

The Aviation Enforcement Office also found that Delta--the second biggest U.S. airline by revenue failed to properly report each disability complaint in reports filed with the department.

Of the $2 million penalty, $750,000 must be paid by the carrier and up to $1.25 million may be used to develop its service to passengers with disabilities beyond what is required by law. It is the largest civil penalty ever assessed against an airline by the Department of Transportation in a non-safety-related case.

Calm Twin Cities weather masks widespread travel disruption

Impact from the storm's early stages rolled all the way to Minnesota, where 125 Delta Airlines flights to different cities across the country about one-third of the airline's Twin Cities traffic were cancelled. Many more cancellations were expected Wednesday, said Delta spokesman Anthony Black.

5 flights to Chicago were diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, likely stranding those passengers for at least Tuesday night, said Patrick Hogan, Metropolitan Airports Commission spokesman.

But the airport was "relatively quiet and calm," Hogan said. That's most likely because airlines have been cancelling flights well ahead of their scheduled departure time, keeping people from showing up at the airport at all.