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Southwest Airlines Experiencing Delays Nationwide
Elizabeth Fry reports.
TAMPA, Florida – Hundreds of southwest flights have been canceled across the country and now many passengers are starting to question the airline’s explanation.
At Tampa International Airport, the line at the Southwest counter was long Sunday morning as hundreds struggled to figure out how to get to their destinations after their flights were canceled.
Like thousands of others, BJ Romero woke up on Sunday morning preparing to leave TPA on Southwest to learn just hours before his scheduled departure time that his Southwest flight had been canceled. The next available flight with the airline to its destination is not until Wednesday.
“I have two kids. I have dates. I have work. I can’t take time off from work. I have people who rely on me, so I have to be home. won’t work for me, ”said Romero who was trying to get home to DC.
As of Sunday morning, Southwest had canceled more than 1,000 flights nationwide, including more than 40 canceled at Tampa International Airport.
“Everyone walks up to that queue and says, ‘I have to go home. I have to go back home. “We all have to go home,” Romero said.
In a statement released by the airline on Saturday, they said the cancellations and delays were due to “ATC issues and disruptive weather conditions.” But many passengers don’t buy it.
“It sounds like silliness to me,” Romero commented. “The weather is fine in all connection areas, there is no bad weather. There must be something behind the scenes that they are not telling us.”
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Passengers told Fox 13 that some local southwest workers had a slightly different explanation, telling TPA travelers that some of the cancellations were linked to staff shortages. Fox 13 reached out to Southwest, asking them specifically about the staffing shortages, but they responded with the same statement they released on Saturday.
As passengers wait for answers, many are now stranded, unable to afford last-minute flights on various airlines.
“Someone has to do something because it’s not right,” Romero said.
In a statement, the FAA said: “No personnel shortages for FAA air traffic have been reported since Friday. Flight delays and cancellations occurred for a few hours on Friday afternoon due to weather conditions. severe weather conditions, military training and limited personnel in an area of the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center Some airlines continue to experience scheduling problems due to lack of planes and crews. Please contact airlines for details on current flight schedules. “
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