Southwest Soars in Holiday Season with Over 81,500 Flights

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

During the 2023 holiday season, Southwest Airlines shone with over 81,500 flights, minimal cancellations, and high efficiency from Dec 20 to Jan 7.

Between December 20, 2023, and January 7, 2024, Southwest Airlines successfully conducted approximately 81,500 flights, demonstrating impressive operational efficiency across various indicators. This period saw significant operational advancements by Southwest, particularly in mitigating impacts and swiftly resuming normal services following a temporary suspension due to heavy fog on December 23 and 24 at Chicago Midway Airport.

Even though this interruption occurred at one of the most frequented airports in Southwest’s network, the airline managed to keep cancellations below one percent during the 19-day holiday travel span, which included the entirety of the first week of January 2024. Operating over 4,000 flights daily during this interval, Southwest transported in excess of 9.7 million passengers.

Challenges like weather disturbances and air traffic control measures posed hurdles, yet Southwest recorded one of its most efficient operational Decembers in recent memory. This trend of excellence persisted into the new year, marking January 1, 2024, as the most punctual start to a year since 2004.

Throughout 2023, Southwest consistently showcased operational strength, especially during key holidays such as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. This ongoing commitment to operational excellence underscores the airline’s dedication to providing its passengers and staff with dependable service.

Southwest extends its gratitude to its devoted passengers for selecting the airline for their holiday travels and eagerly anticipates their return. The airline’s over 74,000 committed employees continually offer exceptional service both on the ground and in flight, eagerly looking forward to another year of delivering friendly, reliable, and affordable air travel, connecting passengers to significant moments in their lives.

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