- January 16, 2023
- Posted by: Larry Walsh
- Category: Analyst Notes
The Southwest meltdown yields valuable lessons for tech vendors, channel leaders
By T.C. Doyle
The meltdown that occurred in December 2022 at Southwest Airlines was a calamity for travelers, but also a cautionary tale for business leaders.
Southwest grounded an estimated 300,000 travelers in the days before Christmas 2022 when a powerful storm dumped an unexpectedly large amount of snow and ice on the Northeast United States. As weather conditions deteriorated, Southwest began canceling flights. Over a three-day period, it canceled more than 15,000 flights, stranding passengers from New York to California.
Although the snow fell evenly on all airlines serving the Northeast, only Southwest suffered a system-wide collapse. “Why” is a cautionary tale about decision-making, executive leadership, and business strategy that extends far beyond the transportation industry to companies ...
