Southwest Airlines
Like other big carriers, Dallas-based Southwest faced many labor troubles that have completely hampered its summer flying schedule in 2022. The airline was forced to cut 20,000 flights to accommodate fewer pilots, mechanics, but also other workers that were highly critical to its operations.
Southwest’s pilots and customer care workers were forced to spend last year’s May in a tense atmosphere, with many contract renegotiations with employees occurring. As of September 1, 2022, the airline fully closed its physical customer care and reservations centers.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines had to slash the number of booked flights last summer, to avoid all the last-minute cancellations that might have angered travelers. At the end of May, the airline declared that it would cut around 100 flights a day from July through August.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian even suggested the U.S. Department of Justice make a non-fly list for all the unruly passengers. As flying hasn’t been exactly the most comfortable experience for many passengers since the pandemic breakthrough, airline customers have become more and more ill-tempered.
There are also many reports and viral videos that show how passengers are spitting on or assaulting attendants, which sometimes even forces pilots to prematurely land their planes.
