Southwest Airlines is Cutting Half Its Flights in June as COVID-19 Crisis Weighs on Summer Travel

April 8, 2020
Southwest said it will continue to serve every city in its network but with fewer connections as the airline enters what is typically the busiest season of the year.

Southwest Airlines will cut half of its flights in June, or roughly 2,000 a day, as hope diminishes for a robust return to flying in time for the summer travel season.

Dallas-based Southwest extended many of its cuts from May into June for the June 6 to 27 schedule, reducing most of its early morning and evening flights.

Southwest said it will continue to serve every city in its network but with fewer connections as the airline enters what is typically the busiest season of the year.

“The cuts proactively address significantly lower passenger demand, operational disruptions and the ongoing suspension of our international service,” the company said in a statement. "The overall demand for travel remains fluid during this ongoing pandemic, and we continue to evaluate further reductions. "

The complete overhaul of the schedule means that many flights will get new planes and numbers, so customers should check their tickets if they have bookings for that period, the company said.

Southwest, like other airlines, has struggled to keep up with the rapid deterioration in air travel demand. On Monday, the airline canceled more than 2,000 flights, or about 50% of its schedule. Crew members are reporting operating flights with just a handful of passengers. Nationwide, just 108,000 people passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports Monday, the lowest number in the agency’s history and down more than 95% compared with a year ago.

Southwest is also adding some destinations with hopes that casual travelers will be back by June and the COVID-19 crisis will have subsided. It’s launching flights from Denver and Baltimore to Cancun and from Denver to San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos on June 6. It’s also bringing back more routes to Nassau in the Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Havana, Cuba, on June 7.

“We’re building plans that reflect forecasts both for diminished demand and potential travel in late spring and summer,” said Southwest chief commercial officer Andrew Watterson.

Southwest also plans to bring back some Hawaii service, something it cut severely after the island state announced 14-day quarantines for any visitors.

Southwest said it will operate flights in June only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., helping it cut its capacity and only run planes during the busiest times of the day.

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