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Southwest bracing for big fine over last year’s meltdown
The federal government could be prepping to fine Southwest Airlines for its infamous network planning meltdown last December.
It deemed Southwest failed to adequately take care of passengers during days of massive disruption.
There were almost 17,000 cancelled flights, impacting about two million passengers.
Southwest said the U.S. Department of Transportation ‘has determined the company had failed to provide adequate customer service assistance.’
This including failing to provide updated flight notifications, as well as prompt refunds.’
The DOT told the airline an ‘assessment of a civil penalty is warranted.’
The airline hasn’t indicated if the DOT has proposed a civil penalty fine yet.
“This level of close-in cancels led us to get behind and then we lost the use of the automation,” Southwest said in its first earnings call after the debacle.
“The disruption uncovered a functional gap in our technology.”
Along with possible fines, passenger compensation and possible lawsuit damages, the airline doesn’t know how much the incident will ultimately cost the company.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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