---
title: "Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association votes to authorise strike"
description: "Southwest Airlines pilots' union said on Thursday its members had approved a strike mandate by an overwhelming majority ahead of the busy summer travel season."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "TURBULENT TIMES"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-12-southwest-pilots-vote-to-authorize-strike/"
published: "2023-05-12T03:00:08"
updated: "2023-05-12T01:35:40"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 135
---

# Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association votes to authorise strike

> Southwest Airlines pilots' union said on Thursday its members had approved a strike mandate by an overwhelming majority ahead of the busy summer travel season.

By Reuters · Published 12 May 2023, 05:00 SAST · Updated 12 May 2023, 03:35 SAST

## Content

The Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, which represents 10,000 pilots of the Dallas-based carrier, said 98% of its members participated in the vote and 99% voted in favour of authorising a strike.

Southwest said the vote result will not impact its operations: "We are staffed and prepared to welcome travellers for their summer travel plans."

Southwest has been under regulatory scrutiny since a staffing crisis due to bad weather during the Christmas holidays overwhelmed its crew scheduling software, disrupting travel plans for 2 million customers.

"Pilots \[have\] already made their voices heard about the operational disasters and the lack of progress after three-plus years of stagnant negotiations,” the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association said.

Earlier this month, pilots of American Airlines Group also approved a strike mandate.

*(Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi.)*