Secretary Pete Buttigieg AWOL as Massive Southwest Airlines Cancellations Create Holiday Travel Hell Across Nation

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has been silent as a meltdown by Southwest Airlines on Sunday and Monday has stranded thousands of holiday travelers across the country. Southwest canceled two-thirds of its flights Monday (at least 2,675 canceled), preceded Sunday by 42 percent canceled flights and 48 percent delayed flights. The massive cancellations are exclusive to Southwest, other are operating normally.

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On Saturday, Buttigieg tweeted that the worst of the weather delays were over for the holiday weekend, “Severe weather across the country led to more than 20% of flights being canceled yesterday. Impacts continue today but FAA expects that the most extreme disruptions are behind us as airline and airport operations gradually recover.”

Severe weather across the country led to more than 20% of flights being canceled yesterday. Impacts continue today but FAA expects that the most extreme disruptions are behind us as airline and airport operations gradually recover.

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) December 24, 2022

Buttigieg’s only tweet Monday as of early evening is about Kwanzaa, “To those who observe, wishing you a bright and meaningful Kwanzaa.”

To those who observe, wishing you a bright and meaningful Kwanzaa. https://t.co/Dal2EWLSm7

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) December 26, 2022

Airline cancellations as of mid-day Monday:

Yikes, @SouthwestAir! This is clearly a meltdown.

Maybe it is time for @USDOT @SecretaryPete to require all U.S. airlines to have interline agreements to rebook on other airlines during irregular operations? pic.twitter.com/BWiojrkPz3

— Ross Feinstein (@RossFeinstein) December 26, 2022

A sample of Southwest Airlines travel hell:

WJLA-TV reporter Kevin Lewis, “I’m a loyal Southwest Airlines customer. I’ve never experienced anything like today’s meltdown. •no email, text or call about my canceled flight •1-800-IFLY-SWA has had a busy tone for 5+ hours •the SWA app/website won’t let me to modify my itinerary •no answer to Twitter DM…I’m trying to fly from Chicago to BWI, DCA, or IAD. •Amtrak’s sold out •rental cars are sold out •Other airlines’ one-way flights start at $519, and there is no guarantee Southwest would cover that cost Delays and cancellations are inevitable but this is next-level disorder.”

I'm trying to fly from Chicago to BWI, DCA, or IAD.

•Amtrak's sold out
•rental cars are sold out
•Other airlines' one-way flights start at $519, and there is no guarantee Southwest would cover that cost

Delays and cancellations are inevitable but this is next-level disorder.

— Kevin Lewis (@KevinLewis7News) December 27, 2022

Oakland:

Total collapse of Southwest Airlines in Oakland, California. I fly a lot and never seen anything like this. Every flight is cancelled/“delayed”. My flight to Phoenix was canceled because “the crew didn’t show up” pic.twitter.com/rJxbnyCf7w

— Mike Bolen | Real Estate Investor (@mikebolen) December 26, 2022

Washington, D.C.:

The crowd at baggage claim & the customer service line for Southwest Airlines at Reagan National are insane! The airline is having a meltdown & people are being told it could be days before they get to their destinations. Southwest blames lingering storm impacts. #aviation pic.twitter.com/zsmf9xhFlo

— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) December 26, 2022

Chicago:

Major issues at MDW where Southwest Airlines passengers stranded, waiting in line for 5+ hours to talk to the help desk for rebooking. Some say they can’t get a flight out until Friday! pic.twitter.com/7IFuWFOXVk

— Dana Rebik (@DanaRebikWGN) December 26, 2022

Dallas:

This is what it looks like at Dallas Love Field Airport – Southwest Airlines.

As of right now, 2,675 flights canceled, that’s 66% of flights, according to Flight-aware.

TWU Local 556, representing flight attendants: they’ve been demanding better technology for years now.@wfaa pic.twitter.com/zaJVVbCvkt

— Malini Basu (@MaliniBasu_) December 26, 2022

Norfolk:

Many travelers are trying to understand why their flights were canceled or delayed at Southwest Airlines in Norfolk. One person told me that they will not have flights at this airport until the 31st. We reached out to Southwest airlines for comment and waiting to hear back. pic.twitter.com/bADk9cXggT

— Angelo Vargas 13News Now (@13AngeloVargas) December 26, 2022

Baltimore:

Big mess at BWI this morning. Over 100 flights cancelled so far this morning. People have been waiting in line at the Southwest ticketing counter for hours. Some people tell me they’ve waited since 2:30 this morning. People are sleeping all over the airport. @wbaltv11 pic.twitter.com/DPiIOdWwJG

— Breana Ross (@breanarossWBAL) December 26, 2022

Southwest Airlines released a statement Monday evening on the delays:

Southwest Airlines Working to Recover from Operational Challenges: Update 6 – Dec 26, 2022
With consecutive days of extreme winter weather across our network behind us, continuing challenges are impacting our Customers and Employees in a significant way that is unacceptable.

And our heartfelt apologies for this are just beginning.

We’re working with Safety at the forefront to urgently address wide-scale disruption by rebalancing the airline and repositioning Crews and our fleet ultimately to best serve all who plan to travel with us.

We were fully staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend when the severe weather swept across the continent, where Southwest is the largest carrier in 23 of the top 25 travel markets in the U.S. These operational conditions forced daily changes to our flight schedule at a volume and magnitude that still has the tools our teams use to recover the airline operating at capacity.

This safety-first work is intentional, ongoing, and necessary to return to normal reliability, one that minimizes last-minute inconveniences. We anticipate additional changes with an already reduced level of flights as we approach the coming New Year holiday travel period. And we’re working to reach to Customers whose travel plans will change with specific information and their available options.

Our Employees and Crews scheduled to work this holiday season are showing up in every single way. We are beyond grateful for that. Our shared goal is to take care of every single Customer with the Hospitality and Heart for which we’re known.

On the other side of this, we’ll work to make things right for those we’ve let down, including our Employees.

With no concern higher than ultimate Safety, the People of Southwest share a goal to take care of each and every Customer. We recognize falling short and sincerely apologize.

UPDATE: Southwest has already canceled nearly 2,500 flights scheduled for Tuesday.

Lest you think this Southwest debacle is going to improve anytime soon…

The airline has proactively canceled nearly 2,500 flights scheduled tomorrow – 60% of its schedule for Tuesday.

(thanks to @mspearma for flagging!) https://t.co/ul6DoLGAnW

— Kyle Potter (@kpottermn) December 27, 2022

Flights are being rescheduled for next weekend:

NOW: Chaos at Reagan National for @SouthwestAir passengers who tell @7NewsDC their flights aren’t being rebooked until Friday/Saturday.

SW says extreme weather led to “…wide-scale disruption…” The airline now “rebalancing the airline and repositioning Crews and our fleet…” pic.twitter.com/Lq1KuIt6cc

— Jay Korff (@Jay7News) December 26, 2022

8:00 PM DCA UPDATE: @SouthwestAir just announced it’s in a ‘recovery’ mode and will be canceling additional flights. The message heard stresses rebooking is very limited. Line to talk to an agent has thinned out a little bit but still very long. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/R2CArbbLPN

— Matthew Torres (@News_MTorres) December 27, 2022

The Department of Transportation posted a brief statement of concern that does nothing to help stranded travelers. Nothing from Secretary Pete.

“USDOT is concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays & reports of lack of prompt customer service. The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan.”

You can read Southwest’s customer service plan here: https://t.co/2vmG9v9nK5

— TransportationGov (@USDOT) December 27, 2022

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