Dem Rep. Khanna and Bernie Sanders Rips Buttigieg Against Southwest Fiasco

Many lawmakers condemned the move. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg The meltdown was at Southwest Airlines This caused thousands of passengers not to be able to board their flight, and they claimed that this could have been prevented.

The company announced plans to resume normal operations On Friday, nearly two-thirds (or more) of the flights were canceled during the Christmas travel season. This was even though severe winter weather conditions had passed through the United States and other carriers had stopped cancelling a large number of flights.

The company’s executives promised that they would reimburse passengers whose flights were cancelled, as well those who had to stay in hotels or rent cars, and anyone who was forced to purchase tickets with another airline. Buttigieg called it the “level of disruption” Customers have reported experiencing the same over the last week “unacceptable” In a letter Bob Jordan, Southwest CEO, said that his agency would use “the fullest extent of its investigative and enforcement powers” To ensure that customers get reimbursed.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Transportation Department to Hold Southwest CEO Bob Jordan “accountable for his greed and incompetence; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) remarked that he joined Sanders “nearly six months ago” In asking Buttigieg, to impose penalties and fines upon airlines who cancel their flights. “Why were these recommendations not followed?” The lawmaker inquired. “This mess with Southwest could have been avoided.”

Southwest canceled 57% percent of its flights on Thursday while other companies such as American Airlines or United Airlines canceled less that 1%, according the Reuters. data FlightAware. On Friday and Saturday, the cancellation rates of major carriers were roughly equal.

The June letter Sanders, who noted that the industry received $54 Billion in relief during the lockdown, prompted the question to Buttigieg “promptly refund passengers for flights that have been delayed over an hour,” As well as imposing fines on airlines “flights that are delayed more than two hours” For more information, please visit: “scheduling flights that they are unable to properly staff.”

“Taxpayers bailed out the airline industry during their time of need,” Sanders wrote. “It is the responsibility of the airline industry and the Department of Transportation to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that the flying public and crew members are able to get to their destinations on time and without delay.”

Nina Turner was a former Ohio state legislator and an ally for Sanders. accountable For the Southwest meltdown. “This is incompetence. This is what placing unqualified people in positions of power to do the bidding of corporations will get you,” She agreed. “There is a direct line from Secretary Buttigieg to the Southwest Airlines debacle and we shouldn’t pretend there isn’t.”

Buttigieg was a former presidential hopeful who has often been cited as a possible future Democratic nominee. However, his time in the Biden administration has been fraught with multiple scandals. After he had twins, the official was granted months of paid leave. hamstrung American economy. He was also caught Portugal was the last place you wanted to go when there was talk of a national rail strike. used Taxpayer-funded private jets were used at least 18 times since the inauguration of his office, despite his support. policies These organizations seek to address climate change at a national level.