A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 jet taxis to the gate.
KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
- Southwest Airlines apologized to customers for flight delays and cancellations on Saturday.
- The airline said the disruptions were due to “intermittent technology issues.”
- Many customers were left frustrated, with one accusing Southwest of making excuses.
Southwest Airlines apologized to customers after hundreds of flights were canceled and more than 1,000 were delayed on Saturday.
According to FlightAware data, the airline canceled 518 flights. A further 1,486 were delayed.
Southwest said the disruptions were due to an “intermittent technology issue” and ongoing weather challenges.
In a tweet, it said: “We are experiencing flight disruptions across our network today due to briefly pausing our service earlier this morning.”
It added: “We offer our heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience, and we will continue to work with customers who experience a disruption in their travel plans.”
Southwest did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment made outside of normal working hours.
Customers expressed their frustration with the airline, with one saying in a tweet that it was the “worst day of traveling” he had ever experienced. “3 canceled flights. Zero support,” he added.
Others accused the airline of using technology issues as an excuse. One customer wrote: “Stop with the excuses. This same thing happened a few months back.”
Some of the biggest US air carriers have been faced with difficulty operating as the airline industry prepares for a busy summer travel season ahead.
Recently, JetBlue asked its flight attendants not to refuse assignments to cope with soaring demand. The request comes as the airline ramps up the hiring of 700 new pilots and flight attendants before summer.
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