Southwest says flights resumed after delays caused by 'tech issues'
Southwest Had Tech Problems. Flights Are Back to Normal. Your Trip May Still Happen.
What Happened
Southwest Airlines experienced technical issues that caused flight delays across their network. The airline has resolved the problems and flights have resumed normal operations.
Historical Context
Airlines experience technical disruptions regularly - Southwest alone has had major system outages in December 2022 (affecting 16,000+ flights over several days), July 2016, and multiple smaller incidents annually. The FAA reports that weather, air traffic control, and technical issues cause thousands of flight delays monthly as part of normal aviation operations. A brief tech outage with quick resolution is actually on the better end of the spectrum for airline disruptions.
What's In Your Control
• Whether you build buffer time into travel plans for inevitable delays
• Your response to disruptions - patience vs. anger changes nothing about the flight schedule
• Having backup plans or flexible booking when possible
• Whether you choose to check flight status before heading to the airport
• Your decision to bring entertainment, snacks, or work for potential delays
Does This Require Action?
If you're flying Southwest today, check your flight status before traveling. If you're not flying Southwest or traveling today, this requires no action from you. Permission granted: You don't need to have strong opinions about airline IT infrastructure or speculate about broader travel industry problems.
Source: CNN