The Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing Thursday on recent air travel disruptions, including the December operational meltdown that caused Southwest Airlines to cancel more than 16,000 flights, affecting travel plans for about 2 million customers during a busy holiday season.
Andrew Watterson, Southwest’s chief operating officer, is testifying at the hearing, titled “Strengthening Airline Operations and Consumer Protections.” Also testifying are Casey Murray, president of Southwest Airlines Pilots Association; Sharon Pinkerton, a senior official with the industry group Airlines for America; and Paul Hudson, the head of Flyers’ Rights, a passenger advocacy organization.
The hearing comes as the U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating whether Southwest engaged in “unrealistic scheduling of flights” in December.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the cancellations “unacceptable.”
“No amount of financial compensation can fully make up for passengers who missed moments with their families that they can never get back — Christmas, birthdays, weddings and other special events,” he wrote in a letter to Southwest’s CEO.
Yahoo News will provide a livestream of the hearing as well as updates and analysis from reporters and trusted partners in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. Tune in here beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
Southwest executives to testify before Senate on airline’s holiday meltdown: Live video and updates
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