FAA Issues Letter To Southwest Voicing Safety Concerns Over Labor Dispute
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
The current and very public labor dispute at Southwest Airlines has the top safety official at the FAA on edge. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, FAA’s Ali Bahrami issued a letter to Southwest and its mechanics in an unusual move outlining the concerns held by the FAA.
In his letter, Mr. Bahrami stated that the FAA is worried that the current dispute between labor and management “raises concern about the ongoing effectiveness of the airline’s safety management system.” He went on to say he wanted “to emphasize the importance of ensuring cooperatively, in accordance with FAA standards, the highest level of safety in the airline’s operations.”
Last month Southwest declared an operational emergency when the number of out-of-service aircraft spiked, causing flight delays and numerous cancellations. The airline has claimed that the mechanics union — the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association — had engaged in a coordinated slowdown and removal of aircraft from service for minor cosmetic issues rather than issues related to flight safety.
While the union is denying any wrong doing, they are airing their own concerns about management. The union has stated that some members feel pressured to overlook issues in preference for keeping the aircraft operational and on time. The airline says they encourage employees to raise concerns and that it considers safety of the passengers above all else.
The dispute stems from the fact that the mechanics at Southwest haven’t received a new contract. Ongoing negotiations have been dragging on for the past six years. The issues at the airline had already prompted the FAA to up their safety inspections of the airline during the past year after it found that the airline wasn’t correctly calculating the total weight of checked bags being loaded onto aircraft.
While the letter didn’t cite any specific incidents or actual lapses in safety at Southwest, it does make it clear that the FAA will be keeping a very close eye on the airline in the near future.
Featured Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.