Two main reasons for which Southwest will probably cancel flights this summer
Like the other airlines, the Southwest has a pilot shortage, but there is also another problem on the horizon.
For travelers anticipating a summer full of carefree vacation in remote localities (or even a short trip by plane), Airline News has been a little scary in recent times. Delta, United and American Airlines have already announced that they are cutting flights to large airports. Now it seems that Southwest Airlines Cancel flights Also. There are two main reasons why the Southwest will probably have to reduce the summer trip that begins to warm up: a shortage of pilots and a shortage of aircraft.
The (sort) of good news is that if JetBlue, Delta Airlines and United Airlines have already limited their Summer travel destinations , Southwest strives to stand out from not announcing any reduction in road planned for the coming months.
Read this then: Delta warns that it will increase the over -service of flights - Can you be hit?
The airline hopes to keep customers satisfied by changing major routes during fall and winter months. But based on Overwhelming cancellation problems of 2022 ,, There is a good chance that this thought does not hold.
A shortage of pilots is one of the main determinants. There is currently an estimated deficit of 8,000 pilots In North America, according to a report published by Oliver Wyman. Pilot training gaps, fewer military recruits, early retirement during pandemic and compulsory retirement at 65 are all contributory factors, the report said.
In anticipation of this shortage, Southwest has tried to plan its summer schedule in a way in which most of its customers will not be affected.
"We have talked a lot about what forces the airline," said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan , during his Profit call for the first quarter . "For the moment, it is the hiring of pilots. So we have effective planes that we do not produce capacity from today because the constraint is only pilots."
The airline hopes to remedy this problem by attracting new talents and pilots formed this fall. But even if it succeeds, another major problem is planned to disrupt the already dismal history of the airline: plane shortages. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
Boeing, the main aviation engineering company, has not yet provided Southwest with the full plane order inventory of this year. Depending on the reports of The street , Southwest is currently settled To receive 70 On the 737-8 maximum aircraft they previously ordered - 30 plans less than the original 90 they requested.
It may not seem much, but Southwest was already down when Boeing failed to deliver 46 planes in 2022, according to Jordan's remarks of the call for winnings. The main culprit is the quality problems of suppliers, which make the engineering company Snatch and delivery worldwide until they are corrected, according to Reuters .
As a result, the airline could reduce seven percent of its schedule, reports Thestreet. However, if everything happens according to the plans set out by Jordan when the Southwest's profits, the schedules of the calendar and the dissolutions of the route should only take place from September.
This does not leave much room for the unexpected problems that take place by then. If you fear that your Southwest Travel Plans are affected, read the ticket policy carefully before booking, see what your options for the flights you have already bought or picked up travel insurance For these worst scenarios.
