The airline at the time said the disruptions cost it roughly $75 million - although the latest setbacks are likely to supersede that figure. Southwest had a similar meltdown last year, but tallied only 2,000 flights canceled through the single weekend. Southwest Airlines has resumed flights, but more than 2,100 were delayed after the embattled carrier requested a pause to resolve technical problems. The stipulations apply to those affected by flight cancellations or significant flight delays between Dec. “Southwest must provide refunds within seven business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash, check, or other means” unless a passenger accepted rebooking instead, Buttigieg said. Buttigieg reiterated that the cascading setbacks throughout the week have gone well beyond a weather-driven issue.Īdditionally, refunds under these circumstances are required, he said. Similar actions will be taken if Southwest fails to provide appropriate hotel or meal accommodations and ground transportation, since it’s incumbent on the airline to do so during a significant event within the airline’s control. He continued: “It would be an unfair and deceptive practice not to fulfill this commitment to passengers.” Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. If Southwest backtracks on that commitment, DOT will “use the fullest extent of its investigative and enforcement powers to hold Southwest accountable,” the secretary said. In a letter to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan that was shared with POLITICO, Buttigieg on Thursday said the airline has promised to honor “reasonable” requests to reimburse passengers who were forced to take alternate transportation to get to their destinations. The travel meltdown - which started with bad weather last week that quickly overwhelmed Southwest’s internal scheduling system, leaving crews stranded and planes parked - has made headlines over the busy holiday, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg taking to the airwaves to pledge a strong federal response. Sky Harbor’s spokesperson Heather Shelbrack on Wednesday said additional staff has been engaged on-site who continue to work with the airlines to keep things moving. “Airline flight cancellations continue, but ticketing for Southwest is moving well, with no significant lines,” said Jonathan Dean, spokesperson for Baltimore-Washington airport. Southwest’s larger service airports, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, say the large number of passengers that had been stranded in their terminals have started to recede now that flights are being canceled preemptively. Do you work for an airline or the FAA? We are examining what’s behind perpetual airline staffing shortages, flight delays and cancellations.
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