Southwest Airlines Cancels Nearly 2,000 Flights This Weekend as Rumors Swirl Employees Are on Strike Due to Covid Vaccine Mandate
October 11, 2021 in News by RBN Staff
Southwest Airlines has canceled nearly 2,000 flights this weekend as rumors swirl employees are on strike over the Covid vaccine mandate.
Southwest employees have until December 8 to comply with the Covid vaccine mandate.
Thousands of angry passengers are now stranded due to the cancelations and Southwest is in damage control mode.
Southwest claimed the flights were canceled due to bad weather in Florida and air traffic control issues although their competitors in the region have reported far less cancelations.
“We experienced significant impact in the Florida airports yesterday evening after an FAA-imposed air traffic management program was implemented due to weather and resulted in a large number of cancellations. We are working hard behind the scenes to minimize challenges and fully recover the operation as we take care of displaced Crews and Customers as quickly as possible.” – Southwest said in a statement.
WGN9 reported:
Hundreds of Southwest Airlines customers have been left stranded due to widespread cancellations across the country.
The airline has said that an air traffic management program put in place due to weather has caused significant delays, although some customers say it is rumored that employees are on strike.
“When I got to the line they rescheduled me on a flight tonight at 9, but that one was just cancelled too,” flyer Wendie Kaminski said.
The flight cancellations have caused passengers to grow upset and confused, noticing a lack of employees at the airport.
Passengers have said they have been given very little information from the airline.
“It’s only two employees, they only have two people checking you in for luggage and tickets,” customer Kasena Jackson said.
Customers have heard that employees may have walked off the job, contributing to the delays.
“We also heard inside that Southwest has had a walkout due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate,” Kaminski said.
