Southwest weighs schedule changes, apologizes to staff after complaints about a grueling summer

Southwest on Friday apologized to staff after their unions complained about grueling schedules this summer and said it was weighing scheduling changes for later this year. The carrier added more flights back to its schedule compared with some of its competitors, an effort to capitalize on a surge in travel demand. The increase in bookings was a welcome change compared to “a year ago, but we have to be honest with ourselves: it’s also taken a toll on our operation and put a significant strain on all of you. And for that, I am sincerely sorry,” wrote COO Mike Van de Ven in a staff note. Staffing shortages have exacerbated problems like bad weather for some airlines this summer, adding to flight cancellations and delays. Southwest had a 64% on-time arrival rate between June 1 and August 18, lower than American, Delta and United, according to data from Cirium. Van de Ven said the carrier is “continuing to evaluate our fourth quarter flight schedules, and we’re taking a serious look at flight levels to ensure that our flying aligns with the staffing needed to operate within this more complicated COVID environment.” Southwest declined to comment further, but TWU Local 556, which represents the carrier’s flight attendants, late Friday told members that the airline has reversed course on plans to add an additional 720 crew assignments to their schedules for September. Southwest pilots’ union on Thursday said it was considering pickets at US airports over Thanksgiving and Christmas to protest tightly packed schedules, a lack of hotels and food options, and other issues. Flight attendants this week raised similar issues.<br/>