More than 1,300 pilots from Southwest Airlines demonstrated at a Dallas airport on Tuesday, complaining that the corporation overworked and understaffed them.and the pilots’ union, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, have been in contract negotiations for the past two years when the protest was conducted at Dallas Love Field.
In response to an increase in flight cancellations as the summer travel season picks up, the pilots waved banners that said, “Our passengers and pilots deserve more” and “Summer of Luv: delayed, rescheduled, cancelled.” Due to a pilot scarcity and an increase in travel demand as a result of the elimination of COVID-19 limitations worldwide, there have been an increasing number of flight delays and cancellations in recent months.
Southwest Airlines‘ poor scheduling methods for pilots, according to SWAPA, have made the pilot crisis worse for the whole industry, which is already suffering from it. The union claimed that because to the manpower shortage and harsh weather, its 8,300 members have frequently had their flights changed and their schedules abruptly altered. SWAPA President Capt. Casey Murray claimed that every day, close to a third of pilots are reassigned. According to SWAPA, overscheduling and constantly changing schedules have increased the number of pilots calling in sick owing to exhaustion.
Southwest Airlines issued a statement to the Post stating, “Southwest Airlines respects the rights of our Employees to voice their thoughts, and we do not expect any interruption in service as a consequence of this singular demonstration.” “We’ve kept a famous Southwest Culture that celebrates our valued Employees for 51 years,” the statement reads. As summer travel picks up, it’s likely that flight cancellations and delays will persist. In preparation, several airlines have already reduced their upcoming flight itineraries.
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