Southwest Airlines canceled more than 1,800 flights this weekend, leaving many to speculate about pilots staying home to quietly protest COVID jab mandates. In addition, the massive number of flight cancellations are forcing Southwest agents to scramble to find replacement flights for thousands of unhappy customers whose travel plans have been disrupted by the cancelations.
DEVELOPING: Southwest airlines cancels 1,000 more flights, leaving travelers stranded as some speculate vax mandate strike
Here's what we know: https://t.co/F7Edn2kJyO pic.twitter.com/rhfJblabZ3
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 10, 2021
Southwest is blaming bad weather, air traffic control issues, and a staff shortage for the cancelations. However, customers are left questioning the authenticity of the “bad weather” excuse, as reports about great weather with clear skies are coming out of Florida.
The weather in Florida is great this weekend. Clear skies. pic.twitter.com/GDvF6kRlqj
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) October 10, 2021
CNBC reports – “I know this is incredibly difficult for all of you, and our customers are not happy,” Alan Kasher, executive vice president of daily flight operations, told staff in a note on Sunday, which was seen by CNBC.
The airline blamed initial problems on bad weather and an “FAA-imposed air traffic management program.”
“Although we were staffed for the weekend, we could not anticipate the significant disruption that was created from unexpected ATC issues and bad weather across our Florida stations,” said Kasher.
Other airlines canceled relatively few flights. Southwest did not comment on the disparity.
The Federal Aviation Administration said there were a “few hours” of flight delays on Friday afternoon because of severe weather and staffing issues at Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, which controls airspace in five parts of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
“No FAA air traffic staffing shortages have been reported since Friday,” the FAA said. “Some airlines continue to experience scheduling challenges due to aircraft and crews being out of place. Please contact the airlines for details about current flight schedules.”
Popular conservative attorney Mike Cernovich called out Southwest for being dishonest with customers, tweeting: Southwest needs to tell the truth!
Southwest needs to tell the truth!
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 10, 2021
Human Events Senior Editor Jack Posbiec asked why the “weather’ is only disrupting Southwest?
Why is the ‘weather’ only disrupting Southwest? https://t.co/6OZ5bwKANM
— Jack Posobiec ☦️ (@JackPosobiec) October 10, 2021
Southwest apologized to travelers for long customer service waits. The airline said in a statement expected to get close to normal operations by Sunday, but disruptions worsened.
The “Libs of Tik Tok,” a Twitter account that mocks liberalism, shared a video showing massive crowds stranded with just 4 desk agents as Southwest cancels 1,000+ flights.
Video shows massive crowds stranded with just 4 desk agents as Southwest cancels 1,000+ flights pic.twitter.com/dTJfLppvst
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) October 10, 2021
The Dallas-based airline canceled 1,019 flights on Sunday, 28% of its schedule, after canceling 808 flights on Saturday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. American Airlines, which operates a large hub in Miami, in comparison, canceled 66 mainline flights, or 2% of its operation on Saturday and Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Spirit Airlines canceled 32 flights, 4% of its schedule.
The disparity between Southwest’s operation and other airlines fueled speculation on social media that employees were calling in sick, with some suggesting it was in protest of a Covid vaccine mandate.
Conservative activist Melissa Tate tweeted about her hope the Southwest pilots will “spark a rebellion” to “save humanity from tyranny” with their alleged strike against COVID vaccine mandates.
Southwest Airlines employees might have just sparked a rebellion to save humanity from tyranny. It is yet to be seen but if more of this happens.. we have a chance at avoiding the dark age being engineered
— Melissa Tate (@TheRightMelissa) October 10, 2021
Seth Dillon, conservative CEO of the satire site The Babylon Bee tweeted: “I hope it’s a strike. And I hope more companies face similar resistance from their employees. This is how you get vaccine mandates reversed.”
I hope it's a strike. And I hope more companies face similar resistance from their employees. This is how you get vaccine mandates reversed. https://t.co/96cqozPjZh
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) October 10, 2021
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Southwest pilots’ labor union, said that “we can say with confidence that our Pilots are not participating in any official or unofficial job actions.”
On Friday, the labor union asked a federal court in Dallas to temporarily block the implementation of the vaccine mandate and other Covid-19 policies, arguing the company took unilateral decisions that require negotiations with the union.
Several Twitter users are convinced Southwest Airlines pilots are striking over the COVID jab mandates.
Conservative Andrew Pollack tweeted: “The fight against medical tyranny is the most important fight of our lifetime.”
He adds: “I STAND WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES EMPLOYEES!”
The fight against medical tyranny is the most important fight of our lifetime.
I STAND WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINE EMPLOYEES!
— Andrew Pollack (@AndrewPollackFL) October 10, 2021
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