"86% Cancellations" US Authorities Investigate Southwest Airlines

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Amid ongoing aviation chaos caused by winter storms in the United States, transportation authorities have taken decisive action against Southwest Airlines, the main culprit. Despite most airports returning to normal operations, Southwest Airlines accounted for 86% of all domestic flight cancellations, a cancellation rate deemed "unacceptable."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 27th (local time), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced an investigation policy, stating, "We are concerned about Southwest's unacceptable cancellation and delay rates and lack of prompt customer service." The Department confirmed, "We will examine what measures Southwest could have taken regarding cancellations and delays and whether they complied with customer service policies."

In the U.S., a winter storm accompanied by severe cold and heavy snowfall hit just before the Christmas holiday, causing several days of flight cancellations and delays. Among these, the cancellations by the low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines were particularly prominent. On Christmas Day and the day before, over 3,000 flights were canceled each day, and on this day alone, more than 2,500 flights were canceled as of the morning. This accounts for approximately 86% of the total cancellations on that day.

On Wednesday the 28th, Southwest Airlines had also canceled 2,500 flights. WP reported, "Southwest Airlines accounted for 86% of domestic flight cancellations as of the 27th, prompting regulatory investigation," adding, "On Wednesday, this figure approached 99% of domestic cancellations."

In contrast, other major U.S. airlines such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines had cancellation rates of about 2% on the same day.

The reason why Southwest Airlines had such a disproportionately large number of cancellations is analyzed to be due to a complex mix of factors including the locations of airports affected by the winter storm, the composition of flight routes, and operational issues.

Chris Perry, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, explained that the winter storm severely impacted cities with many of their routes such as Denver and Chicago, causing difficulties with flight crews and flight connections. TWU Local 556, representing Southwest flight attendants, also pointed out that the outdated crew scheduling system was a contributing factor. WP reported that some crew members waited on the phone for more than five hours to receive flight change notifications.

Southwest Airlines announced that it will reduce operations to one-third of its usual schedule over the coming days. However, passenger dissatisfaction is growing among those who booked with Southwest and experienced disruptions to their plans.

Notably, this cancellation crisis occurred after a previous aviation chaos last summer. U.S. President Joe Biden tweeted, "Thousands of flights were canceled nationwide around the (Christmas) holiday. The administration will hold airlines accountable." He added, "If you were affected by cancellations, check the Department of Transportation website to see if you are eligible for compensation," providing the DOT website link. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also stated that the situation is under close review.

Meanwhile, the winter storm accompanied by severe cold, heavy snow, and strong winds has also caused casualties. NBC reported that at least 64 people nationwide have died due to the storm, including 33 confirmed deaths in Erie County, Buffalo, New York, where snowfall exceeded 1.25 meters. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) announced that the winter storm is expected to gradually ease this week, with temperatures in the East and Midwest slowly rising over the next few days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.