4 Southwest Airways planes have been parked at their gates at Chicago’s Halfway Airport closing past. (AP Photograph/Charles Rex Arbogast)
The Senate Trade Committee will retain a listening to Thursday on fresh air progress disruptions, together with the December operations faint that brought about Southwest Airways to prevent greater than 16,000 flights and disrupt progress plans for roughly 2 million shoppers all through a hectic pleasure season.
Southwest Prominent Running Officer Andrew Watterson will testify on the listening to, titled “Strengthening Airline Operations and Consumer Protections.” Additionally attesting can be Southwest Airways Pilots Affiliation President Casey Murray; Sharon Pinkerton, a senior legitimate at business workforce Airways for The usa; and Paul Hudson, head of Flyers’ Rights, a passenger advocacy workforce.
Watterson stated closing past that the airline’s team scheduling instrument hasn’t stopped operating, however that “a combination of our processes and technology hasn’t been able to keep up with the pace of cancellations at the height of the weather disruption.”
The listening to comes as america Area of Transportation investigates whether or not Southwest used to be inquisitive about “unrealistic flight planning” in December.
Delivery Minister Pete Buttigieg referred to as the cancellations “unacceptable”.
“No financial compensation can fully compensate passengers who have missed moments with their families that they can never get back — Christmas, birthdays, weddings and other special events,” Buttigieg wrote within the letter to Southwest’s CEO.
Yahoo Information will serve a reside current of the listening to, in addition to updates and research from newshounds and depended on companions in Washington, DC and somewhere else. Music in right here from 10 a.m. ET.
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