Southwest Airlines cancels hundreds of flights, blames air traffic control and weather issues

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights have been canceled or delayed, including dozens at Houston Hobby Airport as part of a major nationwide issue.

While the airline attributes the problems to air traffic control issues and weather conditions.

“ATC issues and disruptive weather conditions resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend as we work to resume operations,” Southwest said in a Tweet.

The ATC issues and disruptive weather conditions resulted in a high volume of cancellations throughout the weekend as we work to resume operations. We appreciate your patience as we accommodate affected customers, and customer service wait times are longer than usual. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/o1scQJ5lLb

– Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) October 9, 2021 FlightAware.com flight tracking website shows Southwest canceled more than 1,000 flights across the country on Sunday and there were delays affecting more than 150 flights.

“So don’t fly southwest today! I’ve never seen so many canceled flights! They say it’s because of the ‘weather’ LOL! Okay, I’ll pretend to believe it, “tweeted a traveler.

So don’t fly southwest today! I have never seen so many canceled flights! They say it’s due to the weather LOL! Okay, I’m gonna pretend to believe it. pic.twitter.com/w1msClCZXm

– Elyssa Mai (@Elyssamai) October 10, 2021

“My family is stuck in Houston without our luggage and sleeping in our clothes,” another passenger tweeted. “My wife and son are sleeping in their contacts because they have no solution or alternative. We don’t have their meds. It’s your fault @SouthwestAir. @HobbyAirport is complicit!”

Rumors circulated on Saturday of a COVID-19 vaccine walkout in Jacksonville, Florida’s air traffic control center, but that information was unfounded until Sunday morning.

“Talking to a few people who work there, it looks like it’s the perfect holiday weekend traffic, wx and staff storm,” @ATCSkyCat tweeted. “I’m not going to stop conspiracy theories though.”

The Federal Aviation Administration told ABC News that no shortages of personnel for air traffic were reported over the weekend. The agency attributed some flight cancellations and delays on Friday to extreme weather conditions, military training and limited staff at the Jacksonville air traffic control center.

“Some airlines continue to experience scheduling problems due to the relocation of planes and crews,” an FAA spokesperson said in a statement.

Talking to a few people who work there seems to have been the perfect storm of traffic, wx, and staff on the holiday weekend. I won’t stop conspiracy theories though

– Chat (@ATCSkyCat) October 10, 2021

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