Southwest Airlines Delays and Cancels Flights for a Third Day

Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights were delayed or canceled again on Wednesday as the company sought to resolve disruptions from earlier in the week amid a pickup in summer travel. From a report: The headaches for Southwest, which is widely credited for pioneering the low-fare airline business model, began on Monday night, when a problem with a weather data supplier prevented the airline from safely flying planes. The issue was resolved within hours, but on Tuesday the airline suffered its own technological problems, resulting in half of its flights that day being delayed and many being canceled, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service. Spillover from that episode caused Wednesday's problems, the airline said. About 10 percent of Southwest's flights were canceled and another 19 percent were delayed by midafternoon, according to FlightAware.

"While our technology issues from Tuesday have been resolved, we are still experiencing a small number of cancellations and delays across our network as we continue working to resume normal operations," Dan Landson, a Southwest spokesman, said in a statement. Southwest said on Tuesday that it was having problems with "network connectivity." Mr. Landson said that those troubles were unrelated to the weather data problems from Monday and that there was no indication the airline's computer systems had been breached or hacked. The flight disruptions came at a critical time for a company celebrating its 50th year.

What is failing?

[Futurepower(R)]

I would like to know why their systems are failing. All the news is giving only a surface report.

Re:What is failing?

[geekmux]

I would like to know why their systems are failing. All the news is giving only a surface report.

Perhaps the Chairman of a publicly traded company, would prefer to not confirm or deny the ransomware attack.

"Damn weather data" tends to hold (stock value) stronger than any memestonk alliance...

Re:

[ceoyoyo]

Lol, yes. Our "weather data" provider had some computer problems, now we are having some *totally unrelated* computer problems.

Right.

Re:

[arglebargle_xiv]

when a problem with a weather data supplier prevented the airline from safely flying planes.

Sheesh, they could have solved this Uganda style [youtube.com] and been in the air again in no time.

Ask Biden.

[thegarbz]

I would like to know why their systems are failing.

Last week Biden told Putin that critical infrastructure was off limits.
Putin (say in a Russian accent). "Comrade Dmitri, the American pigdog asked nicely not to attack oil pipes, said nothing about airlines. (drinks wodka straight from bottle). Tell Evgenii hit United. Next week, Southwest. (drinks more wodka straight from bottle)"

How hard can it be?

[Anonymous Coward]

Southwest doesn't even have assigned seats.

They just let everyone scramble to get on the plane trying to to get stuck in the middle seat between the two fattest fucks overflowing over their arm rest.

You should be able to handle those types of operations via email or slack.

Re:

[Randseed]

Southwest doesn't even have assigned seats.

They just let everyone scramble to get on the plane trying to to get stuck in the middle seat between the two fattest fucks overflowing over their arm rest.

You should be able to handle those types of operations via email or slack.

Last time I was on a Southwest flight was near the beginning of the pandemic. There was this overweight, sweaty guy that I swear shit his pants before we attained cruising altitude. I was very glad I had an N95.

Re:

[geekmux]

You should be able to handle those types of operations via email or slack.

It's still a company putting hundreds of metal tubes in the air filled with souls for cargo.

If it were that easy, airlines would be as plentiful as Amazon 5-star counterfeit Choice reviews.

Re:

[ceoyoyo]

They pretty much are. You have to hire certified pilots and mechanics, but other than that you can screw up as much as you want and it will just cost you money.

Re:

[Ol Olsoc]

You should be able to handle those types of operations via email or slack.

It's still a company putting hundreds of metal tubes in the air filled with souls for cargo.

If it were that easy, airlines would be as plentiful as Amazon 5-star counterfeit Choice reviews.

And Southwest's most important attribute is cheap. Kind of like the Carnival cruise line of the sky.

Re:

[Richard_at_work]

Weights and balances, weights and balances

Oddly Enough...

[cirby]

Last week, United had some big computer issues, too.

Gee, what an amazing coincidence.

Re:

[geekmux]

Last week, United had some big computer issues, too.

Gee, what an amazing coincidence.

Airlines targeting each other in cyber-warfare? I'm gonna need extra butter on my popcorn for this entertainment.

* Today's in-flight double feature; Blackhat and Hackers *

Well I see somebody on the ground still has a sense of humor...

Re:

[cirby]

No, foreign actors going through their list of airlines that they can shut down whenever they want.

Re:

[geekmux]

No, foreign actors going through their list of airlines that they can shut down whenever they want.

Keep your friends close, and your competitors closer.

Perhaps this industry is cutthroat enough, for either of our scenarios to play out.

I work at BWI

[stevent1965]

I was working Monday evening in the command center at BWI. Much stress! Didn't leave until 1:30 am. Glad I was off Tuesday and Wednesday! Problem on Monday was the weather reporting module in the operations software. Flights can't be released to depart if the pilots don't have accurate weather aloft. It was a close call Monday as to whether or not all of the flights were going to be canceled, system wide. Corporate ordered all the flights on the tarmac to be deboarded. Fortunately, the problem resolved around 11 pm or so, flights were reboarded and only a few were canceled, for other reasons. I don't know what is causing the network connectivity issues these last two days but I would bet it is related to the problems with the weather data.

Apparently it costs $200 for a no-show or change

[Tokolosh]

I asked the lady when I could expect my money, but only got a a blank stare.

Re:

[timeOday]

Southwest is the only airline I would speak up for here - they don't charge change fees. The other airlines' change fees are absurd.

Re:

[Tokolosh]

Then I shall not charge them a fee.

This from the guys who want us to trust the 747 Ma

[berchca]

I mean, this really doesn't reflect well on their ability to scrutinize software, including the purported fixes in the 747 Max.
https://www.thestreet.com/investing/boeing-gains-as-southwest-airlines-converts-34-747-max-options