The US Department of Transportation has waived the USD11 million balance of a USD35 million fine on Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) for delayed refunds and a lack of "adequate customer service assistance" in the aftermath of a winter storm in December 2022-January 2023. The regulator said that by investing USD112.4 million in its operations, the LCC had improved its on-time performance and completion factor, justifying the waiver. "DOT believes that this approach is in the public interest as it incentivises airlines to invest in improving their operations and resiliency, which benefits consumers directly," the authority said. The LCC has paid USD24 million of the fine and had been due to settle the final instalment by the end of January 2026.