Vision Airlines fined $50,000 for canceled flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined Vision Airlines $50,000 for violating rules that protect passengers when their public charter flights are canceled.

Vision was one of several carriers operating flights for Direct Air, a charter operator also known as Myrtle Beach Direct Air & Tours, which ceased operations in March, the department said in a press release.

Direct Air arranged charter flights from a number of cities in the Midwest and Northeast to Myrtle Beach, S.C. and cities in Florida.

The DOT has several rules regarding public charter flights. One of them bans the cancellation of flights less than 10 days before departure unless it is physically impossible to operate the flight.

"Airline passengers should be able to book their trips without having to worry about a last-minute cancellation or being stranded away from home," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press release. "DOT will continue to take enforcement action against airlines and charter operators when they violate our airline consumer protection rules."

Vision Airlines stopped flying charters for Direct Air on March 13. The DOT said that several passengers did not receive the service for which they paid Direct Air when Vision canceled the remaining flights it was scheduled to operate for Direct Air.

The DOT determined that Vision violated the 10-day rule. The airline also failed to secure return flights for those round-trip passengers who used the outbound leg of the canceled trip.

The DOT also ordered the carrier "to cease and desist from further violations." The investigation of Direct Air's shutdown is ongoing.