For the first time, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined a passenger airline for “chronic flight delays.” On Jan. 3, the DOT announced a $2 million penalty against JetBlue Airways Corp. A news release from the department said the Long Island City, New York City, low-cost carrier operated four “chronically delayed” flights at least 145 times between June 2022 and November 2023. “Today’s action puts the airline industry on notice that we expect their flight schedules to reflect reality,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the release. “The department will enforce the law against airlines with chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling practices in order to protect healthy competition and ensure passengers are treated fairly.”…