Southwest Airlines Experiences Technical ‘Issue,’ Resulting in Thousands of Flight Delays

Southwest Airlines Faces Another Setback with Over 1,000 Flights Delayed Due to Computer Outages

After a disastrous holiday season in 2022, Southwest Airlines vowed that the chaos would never happen again. However, this week the airline faced yet another setback as over a thousand flights were delayed on Wednesday due to computer outages and a software malfunction.

Customers reported being unable to check in for their flights on the airline’s mobile app, adding to the frustration of the delays. Some passengers experienced delay times of up to 10 hours before boarding, with additional delays on the tarmac.

In response to the situation, Southwest Airlines issued a statement explaining that a power outage at one of their data centers in the Dallas area caused the technology issue. The company apologized to customers and assured them that they were working to get everyone to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Southwest Airlines had a strong first quarter in 2024, with operating revenue of $6.3 billion, a 10.9% increase year over year. However, the airline’s stock was down around 13% year over year as of Thursday morning.

CEO Bob Jordan hinted at potential changes to the airline’s operations, including the boarding process and cost-cutting measures in response to ongoing issues with Boeing. Southwest has received less than half of the 737 Max 8 aircraft they had anticipated this year, adding to the challenges they are facing.

As Southwest works to recover from this latest setback, customers are hoping for smoother travels in the future.