DOT fines Delta $2M for disability violations

The Transportation Department is ordering Delta Air Lines Inc. to pay a $2 million civil penalty after complaints about the way the airline treated disabled passengers.

The government says Delta's handling of disabled passengers actually got worse after an investigation in 2003. The complaints that led to the new penalty were from 2007 and 2008.

Delta has to pay $750,000 of the penalty. The rest can be used to improve its service for disabled passengers above what the law requires.

Delta admitted no wrongdoing. It says it will install more elevators, and allow customers to specify what type of wheelchair help they need when they buy a ticket on the airline's website. It will also install additional jetways - instead of stairs - for boarding regional flights.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)