Should i fly southwest airlines

The airline said it is reducing its schedule by 27 flights a day in September, taking it to an average of 3, flights a day across its system. For October it is reducing its schedule by an average of flights a day -- an average of 3, flights. Read More. Those other carriers depend on so-called "regional airlines" to fly a great percentage of their flights, typically with smaller, feeder aircraft.

The airline also plans to make adjustments to its schedule for the remainder of the year, though those details have yet to be announced. Severe understaffing.

In addition to cutting flights, Southwest is in the process of hiring more workers. All of the major airlines reduced staff during the pandemic and are trying to rehire staff to meet the increased demand. The pilots union at Southwest, which is planning "informational pickets" to express its displeasure with the airline, said it welcomes the announcement -- even though it means less flights for its members.

The data shows it has the potential to be even worse than this summer has been," said Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. We want effective measures to reduce the waste and stress on our crews.

The airline's flight attendants are at "a breaking point" because of severe understaffing, according to Lyn Montgomery, president of the Transport Workers Union unit that represents the 15, Southwest flight attendants. She told CNN that the problem is partly because 1, flight attendants took early retirement offers in the early days of the pandemic.

Montgomery told CNN the airline has been regularly changing flight attendants' schedules, pushing them into extra-long days and weeks, and adding unstaffed flights to its September flying schedule.

Southwest has struggled all summer with high numbers of delayed and canceled flights. The White House has pushed airlines to adopt vaccine mandates because they are federal contractors — they get paid by the Defense Department to operate flights, including those that carried Afghanistan refugees to the U.

United Airlines was the first major U. Southwest had remained silent even after President Joe Biden announced his order for federal contractors and large employers. Finally last week, Southwest told employees they must be fully vaccinated by Dec. Workers can ask to skip the shots for medical or religious reasons. Rico in Atlanta contributed to this report. Sections U. Science Technology Business U. Southwest cancels hundreds more flights; passengers stranded.

Politics Covid U. News World Opinion Business. Share this —. Follow NBC News. Southwest Airlines strands thousands of angry passengers after canceling flights Oct. By Daniella Silva. What Southwest passengers should expect this week amid major disruptions Oct.