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• #SOUTHWEST AIRLINES DELAYS FLIGHTS UPDATE#

Southwest Statement Regarding Recent Operational Disruptions – Update #1 October 11, 2021 If Customers require assistance from Southwest, they can utilize one of the airline's self-service options for convenience or Contact Us via one of the methods listed on. We've built a reputation around safe, reliable, friendly air travel, delivered with legendary Southwest Hospitality, and we're sorry to anyone whose experience did not reflect that over the past several days. The Southwest Team appreciates the patience of Customers, and we extend our gratitude to our Employees who have worked tirelessly to stabilize our operation. Statement Regarding Recent Operational Disruptions – Update #2 October 12, 2021Īs we complete efforts to stabilize our network, Southwest expects a more normal operation on Tuesday with approximately 90 system-wide cancellations out of the airline's almost 3,300 flights scheduled for the day. We extended our deepest apologies to Customers who have been impacted and look forward to welcoming them back on a future Southwest flight. We thank our Employees for the hospitality they’ve shown our Customers during this challenging time. Southwest Airlines resumed normal operations today. Southwest’s First Mother/Daughter Pilot Duo Takes Flightįinal Statement Regarding Recent Operational Disruptions.Southwest Airlines Celebrates 15 Years of Service in Denver.The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. David Schaper, NPR News.Ĭopyright © 2021 NPR.

But both CEO Kelly and the pilots' union deny that pilots are calling in sick to protest. SCHAPER: Add to that the unusually bitter tensions between Southwest and its pilots, who went to court on Friday to try to overturn the company's COVID vaccine mandate. HARTEVELDT: But that doesn't excuse the lack of planning and the lack of ability to recover. And Henry Harteveldt says one reason is because, unlike its hub-and-spoke competitors, Southwest planes and flight crews fly from one city to another and to another. Southwest, meanwhile, had its worst day for delays and cancellations Sunday. The FAA says it was short staffed at an air traffic control center in Jacksonville for a few hours, but all other airlines had to contend with that, too, and they recovered by midday Saturday. SCHAPER: And Kelly says about half of Southwest planes go into or out of Florida each day. And obviously, I really feel for our customers and our people that are trying their best to serve our customers. GARY KELLY: It's been a really rough weekend. On CNBC this morning, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly acknowledged the obvious. SCHAPER: Harteveldt says, as delays and cancellations snowballed this weekend, Southwest found itself with many pilots and planes completely out of place. HARTEVELDT: As a result, Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall and smashed into a thousand pieces and is struggling to put itself back together again. SCHAPER: Henry Harteveldt is a travel industry analyst and president of the Atmosphere Research Group.

HENRY HARTEVELDT: Southwest was hit by the ugly stick this weekend. Twenty percent of its flights on Saturday and close to 40% of flights on Sunday were canceled, while many others were significantly delayed. But first, NPR's David Schaper has this report.ĭAVID SCHAPER, BYLINE: The operational meltdown for Southwest began Friday, with thunderstorms in Florida forcing lengthy flight delays and cancellations. In a few minutes, we're going to talk with the head of the pilots' union. While the airline blames air traffic control problems and bad weather in Florida, some suggest another reason involving pilots. Since Friday, Southwest has canceled more than 2,000 flights and delayed thousands more. Southwest Airlines canceled dozens of flights again today as the airline tries to get back to normal operations after a pretty chaotic holiday weekend.