Dutch flag carrier KLM is one of several airlines fined by the authorities in the US for taking too long to compensate passengers whose flights were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

KLM and German airline KLM were both fined $1.1 million while South African Airways was ordered to pay $300,000 after thousands of customers had to wait months to get their money back.  

In total, passengers from three airlines were entitled to over $900 million in refunds for cancelled flights, most of which was due to be paid by Lufthansa. KLM’s bill was some $113 million.

KLM canceled 7,950 flights between the US and Europe between March 2020 and September 2022 because of Dutch government-imposed travel restrictions.

The US department of transportation said it had 948 complaints about KLM’s handling of refund requests.