Airline News: Delays, Exploding Cans, and Safety

Following the problems caused by the CrowdStrike software update affecting Microsoft systems, airlines are still reeling from the negative effects caused by the dilemma.

The global IT outage caused widespread flight cancellations and delays on Saturday, continuing the disruption from the previous day. Over 2,100 flights were canceled in the United States alone, along with over 8,600 U.S. flights delayed.

The outage has also led airlines to face challenges very similar to severe weather disruptions. Delta canceled 36% of its Saturday flights, while American Airlines recovered swiftly with only 1% canceled.

Airlines are offering fare waivers and handling customer reimbursements for expenses like meals and hotels according to their policies, along with calls for clear refund processes for affected passengers.

Due to scorching summer temperatures in the U.S., several Southwest Airlines flights have experienced issues with overheated beverages, causing cans to burst midair.

Incidents involving overheated cans have led to injuries among flight attendants. The airline is implementing measures to avoid serving compromised beverages onboard as well as using cooler storage and performing careful monitoring of can temperatures.

Furthermore, according to NPR, Southwest explained that the “heat has warped some cans and caused others to burst upon opening, an issue it’s been communicating with employees about since the spring. But it stressed there haven’t been any reported incidents involving customers.”

Moreover, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also now investigating a Southwest Airlines flight that flew over Tampa Bay, Florida, on July 14. The Boeing 737 MAX started to descend to an abnormally low altitude of about 175 feet.

Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines has implemented a shareholder rights plan in response to Elliott Investment Management’s $2 billion investment in the company. The plan, also known as a “poison pill,” aims to prevent Elliott from acquiring a significant stake in Southwest without board approval. The plan issues rights to shareholders, allowing them to purchase discounted stock if any entity buys 12.5% or more of Southwest’s common stock. Southwest states the plan is to protect shareholder interests amid Elliott’s push for changes in leadership and strategy to boost the airline’s performance.