Southwest’s Meltdown Reminds Us We Must End Airlines’ Corporate Welfare

Southwest Airlines experienced an enormous meltdown over the Christmas holiday week last month, cancelling thousands of flights, and losing track of—or outright losing—countless pieces of luggage. The airline was full of excuses, of course. As has become fashionable for government and corporate screw-ups, airline management attempted to blame covid for staffing problems. Southwest also blamed the weather. It’s amazing they didn’t also try to somehow blame “Russia’s war in Ukraine“—as the stock phrase now goes—as well.

Yet, no other major airline had nearly the troubles that Southwest had in terms of either weather delays or staffing problems. Rather, the operational problems apparently stem from the fact that Southwest couldn’t be bothered with spending money to improve its own operating capabilities over the past decade. This occurred in spite of the fact that Southwest—like other major US airlines—collected billions of dollars in bailout funds. The company then reported large profits thanks in part to the funds stolen from taxpayers.

Already, we’re hearing about lawsuits from paying customers, and fines from federal regulators. The only real solution, however—in addition to civil suits to recover real damages—lies in forcing Southwest to submit to more market competition. In addition to periodic bailouts from taxpayers, Southwest—like all US airlines—is protected from foreign competition by protectionist US laws. Combining these protections with bailouts—airlines got free money in both 2001 and 2020—we have an airline industry that’s complacent, wasteful, and prone to mistreating its customers.

Mask Mandates and Southwest’s Mistreatment of its own Customers.

As stranded customers sought to reschedule their flights at the Nashville airport last week, Southwest employees called in the police to threaten customers with arrest if they didn’t immediately leave the area. The airline later claimed they were merely trying to “help” customers contact reservation agents elsewhere in the airport. – READ MORE