In an unprecedented move, Southwest Airlines has cancelled over 6,000 flights — resulting in thousands of passengers being stranded across the United States.
The airline made an announcement on its website that due to an “operational disruption” caused by a recent computer glitch, flights are being cancelled over the next week. Flight attendants and other personnel are having difficulty accessing the system to check in passengers, leading to the disruption.
It is estimated that more than 5,400 Southwest flights were cancelled between May 3 and May 9, and the airline is expecting more cancellations over the next week.
So far, the company has offered few details but has said it is “working diligently” to restore flight operations at all of its destinations.
The disruption has caused significant disruptions for passengers. People who were scheduled to take a Southwest flight have had to scramble to find other modes of transportation or accommodations. Some have been stranded in airports for hours due to cancelled flights. Others have been unable to get tickets on other airlines because flights are sold out due to the high demand created by the disruption.
The airline has said that it is offering refunds or vouchers for cancelled flights, and is also trying to assist passengers with alternate transportation. It is also offering a travel voucher to passengers who have been significantly impacted by the disruption.
Southwest’s issues have highlighted the need for airlines to have backup plans in place for times like this. Parts of the industry are becoming increasingly automated, but when a major system failure occurs, the effects can be felt around the world.
The disruption comes at an already difficult time for the airline industry, which has suffered financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Southwest is among the airlines that have been hit hard, having recently announced plans to furlough hundreds of employees.
It is unclear when Southwest will be able to restore normal operations, though it has said it is working as hard as possible to do so. Until then, many passengers will be left in an uncertain situation, hoping that their flights will be rescheduled in a timely manner.