Order 99-3-2 - Delta Air Lines, Inc. -Codesharing Violations

Order 99-3-2

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Order 99-3-2	Issued and Served March 3, 1999	Consent Order	Codesharing Violations
		Attachment: Accounting Template

Department investigators conducted a recent telephone survey involving 60 test calls to Delta relating to code-sharing flights. In a substantial amount of those test calls, Delta personnel failed to provide timely notice of the code-sharing flight in accordance with the Department's requirements. In several instances Delta personnel did not provide any notice to the caller of the code-sharing arrangement, even when specifically asked. During a number of other calls the identity of the code-share operator was provided only after the investigator specifically asked for the information and/or after the caller requested a specific reservation or had booked a reservation. Overall, there was an unacceptable number of test calls in which the caller was not properly told prior to his or her reservation request, as is required by our notice requirement, of the airline actually operating the code-share service. This is the second time Delta has violated the Department's code-sharing regulations. By Order 91-8-41, issued August 20, 1991. Delta has agreed to settle this matter with the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and enter into this consent order to cease and desist. Delta has also agreed to pay $25,000 in compromise of the potential civil penalties otherwise assessable under 49 U.S.C. §46301. The Enforcement Office believes that the assessment of a civil penalty of $25,000 in this instance is warranted in light of the nature and extent of the code-sharing disclosure problem in question.

By: Rosalind Knapp