Oct 11, 2021 - Economy

Southwest cancels over 350 flights, delays around 600

Jacob Knutson

A person walking past a Southwest Airlines airplane Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Oct. 11. — Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 350 flights and delayed around 600 others on Monday after mass cancellations over the weekend from what the airline called "operational challenges," according to AP.

Driving the news: The cancellations started after its pilots asked a court to block the company's new COVID vaccine mandate, though Southwest said Sunday the service disruptions were not a result of a planned labor demonstration by its pilots, Axios' Michael Mooney and Ben Montgomery report.

The Dallas-based airline canceled about 1,900 flights over the weekend, citing air traffic control issues and bad weather, AP reports.

The big picture: The company said Monday it expects normal service to return this week, according to Reuters.

The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said Saturday that its pilots were "not participating in any official or unofficial job actions."

Go deeper: Southwest Airlines denies that pilot "sick out" drove weekend of delays

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Southwest cancels over 350 flights, delays around 600

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