Southwest flight cancellations overview:
- Who: Southwest Airlines told the Securities and Exchange Commission that the company may face a fine from the U.S. Department of Transportation due to last year’s disruptive flight cancellations.
- Why: The DOT reportedly determined that Southwest failed to provide adequate customer service or refunds to affected customers.
- Where: The potential Southwest fine was declared in the airline’s SEC filing.
Southwest Airlines may be on the hook financially over its flight cancellations during the 2022 holiday season, according to the airline’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reportedly notified Southwest Airlines that it may impose a fine due to the disruption in its procedures that caused more than 16,700 Southwest flight cancellations between Dec. 21 and 29 last year.
The DOT found that Southwest Airlines “failed to provide adequate customer service assistance, prompt flight status notifications, and proper and prompt refunds and that the assessment of a civil penalty is warranted,” Southwest’s SEC filing notes.
The SEC filing did not provide an estimate on the amount of the proposed Southwest fine.
Southwest also informed the SEC that it could face monetary damages from litigation filed by customers and shareholders, but the airline said it could not estimate the amount of damages it could face.
Inadequate preparation, tech issues caused Southwest flight cancellations, COO testified
Southwest’s COO Andrew Watterson told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at a February hearing that the airline “did not have enough winter operational resilience,” Law360 reports.
Watterson reportedly noted that the airline lacked adequate de-icing equipment and was not prepared for the way in which extremely cold temperatures affected jet bridge hydraulics and ground support equipment fuel.
To make matters worse, Southwest’s internal flight crew scheduling system could not meet the airline’s urgent need to reschedule flights during the massive winter storm that hit the country days before Christmas, according to Law360.
Customers and investors have filed lawsuits over the Southwest flight cancellations. One investor lawsuit claims Southwest knew its technology was in need of an update and that its route structure left the airline particularly vulnerable to inclement weather. Despite this knowledge, Southwest allegedly concealed these risks from shareholders, the plaintiff claims.
A Pennsylvania federal judge recently denied a motion to certify a Southwest Airlines class action lawsuit that alleged the airline breached its contract with customers and violated federal regulations by failing to offer refunds for flights that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Were you affected by last year’s Southwest flight cancellations? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
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25 thoughts onSouthwest faces possible Dept. of Transportation fine over flight cancellations
Our flights were delayed, then canceled for 6 days. Our luggage was lost the whole time in the City of Chicago and missed Christmas back home.
Our flights were debated, then canceled for 6 days. Our luggage was lost and missed Christmas back home.
My family and I returned from a cruise after Christmas to New Orleans. We were stuck there another 3 days. We incurred additional costs due to lodging, transportation, food, clothing, and entertainment. I had to take additional time off from work.
We sat at the airport for 8 hours on ChristmasDay. Kept delaying. Finally cancelled after making us believe a pilot was flying in on last incoming flight to take us.
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My boss and I were taking a flight on SWA from Sacramento CA to Las Vegas NV, via a 1 hour stop in San Diego CA. When we arrived in San Diego those of us that were going to Las Vegas were to stay on the plane and wait for other passengers to load. After they were all loaded we sat and waited to continue our flight. My boss received a message that our flight was canceled, as we sat and waited we did not get any info from the pilot or stewardess. After a 45 minute delay my boss went and asked the pilot why our flight was cancelled 45 minutes ago and we are still on the plane waiting to embark on our flight. The pilot acted as if he didn’t know about our cancellation and returned to the cockpit, 5 minutes later we were told that our flight was cancelled. We were unable to get another flight to Las Vegas and had to rent a car and finish our trip driving 5 hours to get to work on time the next day. Needless to say we didn’t get any rest before starting our supervisor positions.
I was tuck in a few airports and once didn’t even get out of home town for a flight. Southwest seemingly continues to cancel (AND DELAY) flights MORE then any other airline. Its such a pain
I was put in a tough situation and had to find a ride back and pay for someone to take me home so I didn’t loose my job. After just loosing my father. Please add me to the lawsuite.
After a family cruise. Myself, sister, niece and nephew were stuck in Los Angeles for a week past our original flight. Housing was our biggest non payment issue, since we know people in Los Angeles and stayed with them our housing expenses were not covered. We in turn lost monies we contributed to this household for their hospitality. My sister had to use pto time which was slated for another occasion, so she had to go without pay on another vacation. Our memory’s of our cruise is now only from pictures because we had such a hard time with multiple cancellations, SWA basically ruined our cruise too.
They cancel our trips and we were stuck at the Airport in Orlando for more than 8 hours. We were invited to a wedding in Houston, Texas and it was interrupted because of their cancelation. We were very dospointed about their neglect not finding another alternative so we can attend the wedding.
On Christmas Day leaving to the airport to catch our flight we found out when we arrived it was cancelled. After 4 hours in line to re-book us they couldn’t get us home until 5 days later. Absolutely ridiculous. Please add me.