Southwest cancels 70% of its flights as travelers try to get home
NBCNov 27, 2022
The Facts
The US Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) has said that it's “concerned” about Southwest Airlines’ recent rash of cancellations and delays in response to last weekend's major storm, and will investigate whether the carrier could’ve responded better.
Southwest didn’t directly respond to the possibility of being investigated, but previously offered “heartfelt apologies” in a public statement. The airline said it’s rebooking customers as quickly as it can, and is offering refunds and credits.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Southwest’s cancellation total is 10 times more than the airline with the second-most cancellations, so obviously it’s doing something drastically wrong. The skies have cleared since the storm, yet Southwest continues to cancel flights at a high rate. This is a total meltdown and, if Southwest can’t get its act together, maybe regulators can get the carrier in line.
Pro-establishment narrative
Southwest has done plenty wrong in terms of overzealous scheduling and under-investing in operations, but these cancellations are equally attributable to bad luck. Two of its biggest hubs – Chicago Midway and Denver International Airport – were hardest hit by the storm, and staffing has been challenged by the so-called “tripledemic” (COVID, flu, and RSV). Combine that with the holiday rush, and Southwest has faced an unprecedented challenge to its service.
