{"id":531801,"date":"2022-12-27T19:44:51","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T16:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights\/"},"modified":"2022-12-27T19:44:51","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T16:44:51","slug":"why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why Southwest Airlines is canceling so many flights"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a2a352f69\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a2a352f69\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights\/#Why_Southwest_Airlines_is_canceling_so_many_flights\" >Why Southwest Airlines is canceling so many flights<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights\/#What_happened_at_Southwest\" >What happened at Southwest?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Southwest_Airlines_is_canceling_so_many_flights\"><\/span>Why Southwest Airlines is canceling so many flights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>Southwest Airlines is gr<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ling with a wave of cancellations and delays that are stranding holiday <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a>ers, a situation the CEO says highlights its need to modernize its operation.<\/p>\n<p>While most carriers were plagued by winter storms over the holiday weekend, only Southwest was forced to cancel a majority of its trips, pointing to systemic scheduling issues that have plagued the airline for years.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr1_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>The airline canceled more than 2,500 flights on Tuesday, according to data from flight tracking website FlightAware, accounting for most of the 2,900 cancellations in the U.S.\u00a0that day.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"6767\" height=\"4095\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3789598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg 6767w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=300,182 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=768,465 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=1190,720 1190w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=1536,929 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=2048,1239 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=645,390 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=50,30 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346028458.jpg?resize=876,530 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That comes after Southwest canceled more than 2,900 flights on Monday \u2014 a whopping 71 percent of its flights \u2014 while other airlines emerged relatively unscathed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Things may only get worse from here for Southwest customers. The airline said Monday that it would operate just one-third of planned flights \u201cfor the next several days\u201d in order to salvage its schedule.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happened_at_Southwest\"><\/span><strong>What happened at Southwest?\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Southwest says it was uniquely affected by winter storms that slammed airports in Chicago and Denver, two of Southwest\u2019s largest hubs. The airline did not have the capacity to reschedule thousands of flights that were derailed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"6003\" height=\"3685\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3789600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg 6003w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=300,184 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=768,471 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=1173,720 1173w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=1536,943 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=2048,1257 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=645,396 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=50,31 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033668.jpg?resize=876,537 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe were fully staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend when the severe weather swept across the continent. \u2026 These operational conditions forced daily changes to our flight schedule at a volume and magnitude that still has the tools our teams use to recover the airline operating at capacity,\u201d Southwest said in a statement.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"5923\" height=\"3953\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3789602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg 5923w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=768,513 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=1079,720 1079w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=2048,1367 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=645,430 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033871.jpg?resize=876,584 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Others, meanwhile, said that the airline overbooked its holiday schedule and didn\u2019t have the workforce available to rebook flights in the event of weather disruptions.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr2_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Southwest workers have long complained that the airline has failed to modernize its decades-old communications systems, raising the likelihood of meltdowns when things go wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest CEO Bob Jordan acknowledged those issues in an internal message to employees Sunday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"5727\" height=\"3818\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3789605\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg 5727w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=1080,720 1080w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=645,430 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1360416199.jpg?resize=876,584 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Alex Wong\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cPart of what we\u2019re suffering [from] is a lack of tools. We\u2019ve talked an awful lot about modernizing the operation, and the need to do that. And crew scheduling is one of the places that we need to invest in. We need to be able to produce solutions faster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr3_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>TWU Local 550, which represents flight dispatchers and meteorologists,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TWU550\/status\/1607547766754136064\">wrote on Twitter<\/a>\u00a0Monday evening that the situation is \u201cuntenable and is a direct result of the lack of investment and foresight by Southwest Airlines leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe lack of vision for the future, long-needed overhauls of <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>, and limited changes to the network are all compounding each other,\u201d the union added. \u201c\u2018Sorry\u2019 is not enough this time. Action must be taken and Southwest Airlines must be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Southwest uses a point-to-point system that relies less on central hubs and allows for more direct flights between faraway locations. The downside is that when flights are canceled, pilots and other workers struggle to reach their next flight, causing further disruptions.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ad-unit ad-unit--mr4_ab\"><\/aside>\n<p>Helane Becker, an airline analyst at Cowen, said in a Tuesday note that Southwest \u201chad an extraordinary number of employees calling in sick,\u201d which contributed to staffing issues, particularly at its Denver hub. The U.S. is struggling with a surge of viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"7687\" height=\"5030\" src=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?w=900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3789607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg 7687w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=300,196 300w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=768,503 768w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=1100,720 1100w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=1536,1005 1536w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=2048,1340 2048w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=645,422 645w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=50,33 50w, https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GettyImages-1346033846.jpg?resize=876,573 876w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 876px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Department of Transportation (DOT) tweeted Monday night that it is monitoring widespread complaints from customers. Many have reported being unable to rebook flights or find their luggage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUSDOT is concerned by Southwest\u2019s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays &amp; reports of lack of prompt customer service. The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan,\u201d the department <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USDOT\/status\/1607558478859759616\">wrote on Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/transportation\/aviation\/3789535-why-southwest-airlines-is-canceling-so-many-flights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Southwest Airlines is canceling so many flights Southwest Airlines is grappling with a wave of cancellations and delays that are stranding holiday travelers, a situation the CEO says highlights its need to modernize its operation. While most carriers were plagued by winter storms over the holiday weekend, only Southwest was forced to cancel a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":531802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thehill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/10\/SouthwestAirlinesGettyImages-1346028250.jpg?w=1280","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[134417,137740,80717,70610,133498,124783,115,76847,134345,73295],"class_list":["post-531801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-blog-briefing-room","tag-cancellations","tag-delays","tag-finance","tag-in-the-know","tag-international","tag-news","tag-southwest-airlines","tag-state-watch","tag-transportation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531801\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}