<p><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-transportation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transportation</a> Secretary <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/pete-buttigieg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Buttigieg</a> blasted <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/southwest-airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southwest Airlines</a> CEO Bob Jordan in a Thursday letter, demanding that the company take immediate action to reimburse stranded passengers.</p>
<p>The carrier, which announced plans to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/southwest-says-it-will-resume-normal-operations-on-friday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resume normal operations</a> beginning on Friday, canceled roughly two-thirds of flights during the busy Christmas travel season, even after severe winter weather conditions that struck the United States had subsided. Executives announced that the company will reimburse the passengers whose flights were canceled, as well as those who were forced to stay in hotels, rent cars, or purchase tickets with another carrier.</p>
<p>Buttigieg called the “level of disruption” experienced by Southwest customers over the past week “unacceptable” in his <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-12/Message%20from%20Secretary%20Buttigieg%20to%20Southwest%20Airlines%20CEO%20Bob%20Jordan_12.29.22.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> and warned Jordan that his agency would exercise “the fullest extent of its investigative and enforcement powers” to ensure customers are reimbursed.</p>
<p>“While weather can disrupt flight schedules, the thousands of cancellations by Southwest in recent days have not been because of the weather. Other airlines that experienced weather-related cancellations and delays due to the winter storm recovered relatively quickly, unlike Southwest,” the former Democratic presidential candidate wrote. “For many, Southwest’s severe flight disruptions have resulted in missed time with loved ones during the holidays and in being separated for a prolonged period from their luggage even if they never boarded a flight.”</p>
<p>Southwest, unlike other major airlines, uses a route model which avoids hubs and therefore offers faster flights to residents of smaller cities. The delay or cancellation of one flight, however, impacts the entire carefully managed network as planes and staff members do not report to the subsequent leg of their flight path.</p>
<p>“Travelers are stuck at airports, facing the possibility of spending significant amounts of money to find another way of getting where they need to go. No amount of financial compensation can fully make up for passengers who missed moments with their families that they can never get back,” continued Buttigieg. “That’s why it is so critical for Southwest to begin by reimbursing passengers for those costs that can be measured in dollars and cents.”</p>
<p>The company has committed to providing meals when a “controllable cancellation or delay” causes passengers to wait more than three hours for a new flight, according to Buttigieg, who said that the Transportation Department will “take action to hold Southwest accountable” if the company “fails to fulfill commitments” that the airline made in customer service plans.</p>
<p>Southwest canceled 57% of flights on Thursday even as other carriers, such as American Airlines and United Airlines, canceled less than 1% of flights, according to <a href="https://flightaware.com/live/cancelled/yesterday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from FlightAware. The cancellation rates among the three airlines were comparable on Friday.</p>
<p>Executives have sought to implement damage control as flight crews return to their necessary starting locations. “Our network is highly complex and the operation of the airline counts on all the pieces, especially aircraft and crews remaining in motion to where they&#8217;re planned to go,” Jordan said in a <a href="https://swamedia.com/releases/release-7e05ea1637937dc7354128bee780ad75-video-southwest-airlines-ceo-bob-jordan-issues-statement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> earlier this week. “We&#8217;re focused on safely getting all of the pieces back into position to end this rolling struggle.”</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Buttigieg Sends Brutal Letter To Southwest CEO Demanding Airline Follow Through With Reimbursing Travelers

CONTINUE READING

Bud Light Sales Continue To Plummet, May Soon Lose Status As Number-One Beer

‘Profoundly Christian’: Former Head Of Anglican Church Presses British Government To Endorse Assisted Suicide

Ben Shapiro Reacts To Debt Limit Deal, Hits Both Democrats And Republicans Over Spending Habits

‘The Chosen’ Defends Pride Flag Spotted On Set: ‘Let The Show Speak For Itself’

Chick-Fil-A Faces Backlash As Their Diversity Efforts Resurface, Other Woke Brands Take Beating

North Korea Sentenced Two-Year-Old To Life In Prison After Family Caught With Bible: State Department

News

Department of Transportation

Pete Buttigieg

Severe Weather

Southwest Airlines

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Buttigieg Sends Brutal Letter To Southwest CEO Demanding Airline Follow Through With Reimbursing Travelers