Southwest Airlines under scrutiny for number of storm cancellations

Most major airlines were heavily impacted by the record-breaking storm that swept across the U.S. in the past few days. However, all but one has largely recovered. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) cancelled more than 70% of its flights Monday, more than 60% on Tuesday, and warned that it would operate just over a third of its usual schedule in the days ahead. That standout number of stranded flyers, lost bags, and the ripple effects caused by cancellations prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to look into the matter, calling the rate of cancellations “disproportionate and unacceptable.” They plan to determine whether or not Southwest could have done anything about the cancellations, and whether the airline was complying with its customer service plan.