Southwest Airlines gate | Wikimedia Commons/ZappaOMatic
Southwest Airlines gate | Wikimedia Commons/ZappaOMatic
Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines eliminated 1,500 daily flights on March 27 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The decrease comes as the airline industry is in the midst of a fallout, one nearly similar to the days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Demand for air travel declined as coronavirus cases surged worldwide.
Southwest, which is the second largest carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport behind American Airlines, usually flies close to 4,000 flights on a daily basis. The cancellations account for about 40% of the carrier’s day-to-day business.
“We'll implement the cancellations on a rolling, multiple-day basis to provide customers with advance notice of changes and alternate flight options,” Southwest said in a statement.
Southwest is reportedly considering making adjustments to its Hawaii schedule as well.
Before the latest round of cancellations, the airline did away with 1,000 daily flights beginning March 22.
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