Southwest Airlines has canceled hundreds of flights, disrupting some vacation travelers

After thousands of United States Flights have been cancelled Or delayed, most likely during the 2022 holidays Holiday travelers this year They got off to a more jolly start this Christmas. But some trouble spots emerged on Christmas Day.

Nearly 135 flights to, from or within the United States were canceled as of 11:30 a.m. ET, while just over 1,100 flights were delayed, according to the tracking service. FlightAware.

Airlines have canceled just 1.2% of US flights so far this year through December 22, the lowest level in five years. almost 3 million passengers It is expected to pass through local airports during the busy holiday period, an increase of 16% from 2022.

Southwest flights have been cancelled

Not everyone was out of luck. Some passengers at Chicago's Midway International Airport this Christmas Eve were left stranded on Christmas Eve. According to CBS News Chicago, as the most disrupted US airline during last year's holiday period – Southwest Airlines – is facing problems again. Southwest attributed the delay to foggy weather in Chicago, but passengers also told CBS2 that a worker shortage was a factor.

These clashes also affected passengers at Denver International Airport, where Southwest canceled 293 flights on Sunday, while nearly 1,300 flights were delayed, according to FlightAware. Data Offers.

“We had heavy fog in Chicago that forced us to stop operating last night and into this morning,” said Chris Maines, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines. He told CBS News Colorado.

FlightAware data showed that Southwest canceled 101 flights on Monday morning, or 2% of its daily flights, while 397 flights were delayed. By comparison, Delta and United Airlines canceled five flights.

“[Y]You guys have ruined my Christmas two years in a row,” one person said to publish Friday at X.

Meanwhile, a winter storm in the northern Plains is bringing snow, ice and more dangerous road conditions Monday to the region stretching from northern Kansas through Nebraska, the Dakotas and parts of Kansas. Minnesotathe The Weather Channel reported.

Southwest earlier this month agreed to a $140 million settlement With the federal government over last year's chaos that stranded more than two million holiday travelers. Southwest previously agreed to pay more than $600 million in refunds and compensation to customers.

“This is a message to the entire airline industry: They must take care of passengers, or we will use the full scope of our authority to hold them accountable,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted on December 18.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.