Thousands of Southwest travelers have found themselves stranded across the country as the airline deals with an unidentified operational disruption.
Within the last week, Southwest has canceled 758 flights to high traffic destinations such as Dallas Love Field (DAL), Denver International Airport (DEN), Chicago Midway (MDW), Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), Las Vegas McCarran (LAS), Orlando International Airport (MCO), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
International flights have also been impacted, according to a report from Travel and Tour World.
The exact causes behind the widespread cancellations have not been fully detailed by the company, but experts suggested to the outlet that a combination of operational and external factors may be responsible.
“Weather conditions, particularly thunderstorms in the Midwest and West Coast, could have contributed to delays, especially in the heavily trafficked airspace above major airports like Chicago Midway and Phoenix Sky Harbor,” Travel and Tour World’s Paramita Sarkar writes.
“Another factor is the strain on air traffic control systems, which have been under pressure due to higher-than-usual air travel demand and airspace congestion.”
“These delays, compounded by Southwest’s reliance on a point-to-point flight model, which can create scheduling issues when one flight is delayed, could have cascaded and led to such widespread disruptions,” she continues.
Travelers have taken to Facebook to report various reasons for flight delays, including weather, crew shortages, and even a missing trashcan.
What can travelers do?
In response to the widespread disruption, Southwest Airlines has deployed extra staff at major airports to assist affected travelers, according to the company’s help line.
Customer service representatives have also been available at gateways to offer information and help passengers with rebooking their flights.
Passengers whose flights have been canceled are being given priority for rebooking, but the airlines says availability remains limited due to the scale of the situation.
Southwest has also been offering accommodation for stranded passengers in cases where overnight stays are necessary.
The airline is also issuing refunds and travel vouchers for those who choose not to rebook.
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