Dallas, Texas – Southwest Airlines faced a wave of delays across the country on Wednesday due to a temporary technology issue caused by a power outage at one of its data centers, the airline informed FOX Business. The situation resulted in a significant number of flights being delayed while the airline worked to address the outage and restart systems to minimize disruptions for customers.
At one point on Wednesday evening, 32% of Southwest’s flights were experiencing delays, as reported by USA Today citing Flight Aware. This incident comes less than two years after the airline’s highly publicized December 2022 meltdown, during which nearly 17,000 flights were canceled, leaving 2 million passengers stranded around the Christmas holiday. The repercussions from that meltdown led to the airline paying out $600 million to affected passengers and facing a $140 million fine following a government investigation.
Southwest Airlines President Cpt. Casey Murray acknowledged that there is shared responsibility for the travel troubles experienced during the summer. The airline is now considering changes to its open seating policy, as it continues to navigate challenges that have arisen, such as outdated computer systems that contributed to past disruptions. In response to these issues, the company has committed to investing $1 billion to upgrade and maintain its IT systems to prevent future incidents and enhance customer experience.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of airlines fulfilling their obligations to passengers, stating that penalties such as the one imposed on Southwest Airlines should serve as a warning to the industry. CEO Bob Jordan expressed the company’s dedication to improving processes and technology to ensure rapid advancements for its valued customers in the wake of recent disruptions. Southwest Airlines remains focused on addressing the root causes of past incidents and implementing solutions that will enhance operational efficiency and reliability for passengers.