Airlines Cap Fares as Southwest Cancellations Continue
Rival airlines have capped fares in some cities in response to an influx of last-minute bookings made after Southwest Airlines Ltd.
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Thousands of flights have been scrapped in the past week.
Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,500 flights on Wednesday, or 62% of its scheduled departures, according to FlightAware data. Chief Executive Bob Jordan said Tuesday that the airline will be running a shortened schedule over the next few days as it redeploys staff and planes. It canceled nearly 11,000 flights from Thursday to Tuesday as it struggled to stabilize its hampered operations.
The turmoil has left thousands of travelers stranded during a busy holiday season, facing scrutiny from lawmakers and Biden administration officials. Southwest Airlines’ challenges stand in contrast to other airlines’ operations, which have returned to normal after winter storms hit parts of the country last week.
Delta on Tuesday introduced fare caps in all markets Southwest operates through January 2nd. American Airlines said on Twitter: For selected cities. ”
A United Airlines spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, “We are capping fares in some cities to ensure that our flights are accessible to as many customers as possible.” .
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According to a travel advisory posted on its website, change fees and fare differences to and from more than a dozen cities, including New York, Boston and Philadelphia, have been waived until January 3.
Spokesperson for Frontier Airlines Holdings Ltd.
The company told The Wall Street Journal that it had reduced its top fares to “pre-turmoil levels.”
A Southwest Airlines operational meltdown has left thousands of travelers stranded across the United States, leaving many long lines and lost luggage. Photo: Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/AP
Competing airline moves come after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
called on airlines to limit fares“It’s encouraging to see several airlines taking this step. All airlines should,” he said.
Buttigieg said Tuesday that his agency intends to hold Southwest Airlines accountable for the travel disruptions and ensure that affected customers are made complete.
Southwest says it is working with affected travelers to process refunds and assist with diversions. “We have some work to do to get this right. For now, I want you to know that we are committed to it,” said CEO Jordan.
—Alison Sider contributed to this article.
Write to Dean Seal ([email protected]) and Will Feuer ([email protected]).
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