Since Friday, December 30, 2022, Southwest Airlines has been operating its normal schedule.
In a press release, the airline said, “We appreciate the dedicated work of the Southwest Team to restore our schedule, and we anticipate minimal disruptions for the weekend.
“Once again, we value the continued patience and support of our valued customers, and we apologize for the inconveniences of the past week.”
Customers affected through the operational disruption can find additional assistance at www.southwest.com/traveldisruption.
Those specifically needing assistance reuniting with baggage can find information via www.southwest.com/baginfo.
Just prior to—and throughout—the Christmas holiday, Southwest Airlines canceled upwards of 60 percent of its flights (more than 15,000 in all). The reasoning was mostly due to an outdated computer system for crew scheduling, according to NPR. (Other attributes included the weather, staff shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and employees out sick with the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)). The New York Times adds that software shortcomings have, in the past, results in “smaller-scale meltdowns” to which Southwest unions repeatedly warned the company about.
According to CEO Bob Jordan, the airline is making investments in its operational areas and is offering refunds and covering expenses for affected travelers; this may include things like rental cars, hotel rooms, meals, and bookings made by customers on other airlines.
“This has impacted so many people, so many customers over the holidays. It's impacted our employees. And I'm extremely sorry for that,” Jordan said. “There's just no way almost to apologize enough, because we love our customers, we love our people, and we really impacted their plans.”
Jordan’s comments came after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) formally warned the airline to do right for its customers—many of whom were stranded in airports, harassed by security and separated from their baggage for days. According to CNN, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote in a letter to Jordan that the agency would take action against the airline—like in the form of fines—if it does not follow through on promises to reimburse passengers for alternative transportation costs, as well as provide meals, hotels, refunds and baggage reunification.
FlightAware currently reports that Southwest has 47 canceled flights today, January 3—representing 1 percent of its operations. Over 300 flights (7 percent) are delayed—but that’s far from a high number.
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