The Southwest is back on track, normalizing travel at Sky Harbor

Southwest Airlines returned to normal operations on Friday after canceling thousands of flights across the country.

PHOENIX — Friday was a welcome change for Southwest passengers. Operations were normal and almost all scheduled flights were cancelled.

On Monday, Southwest employees told passengers that 90% of flights out of Sky Harbor had been canceled, with no flights available for four days, and advised people to go home.

“The 26th flight was scheduled for the 2nd,” said Southwest Passenger Currie.

Callie and his family visited his parents in San Francisco for Christmas. Instead, he had to borrow a car from his father and make the 17-hour drive to Tempe to get home.

“So we’re crazy about coming back to the airport and trying again in the same week,” Curry said.

He is a loyal Southwest Airlines customer and expects the airline to do the right thing. On Friday he flew without incident to visit a friend in Albuquerque.

Only three Sky Harbor flights were canceled by Southwest Airlines, according to FlightAware.

That meant Pauletta Bathory could carry out the tradition with her best friend.

“We have a long tradition of going to the Rose Parade every year,” said Bartley.

Bathory waited with her grandchildren for the arrival of her lifelong friend. She admitted they didn’t know the trip was going on until this morning.

“She’s here, on the ground,” said Bartley.

The entire group drives to California to watch the parade for the 45th consecutive year.

“Now our family is complete. Now we can go to the Rose Parade,” said Bartley.

There are many questions that will have to be answered in the coming weeks and months about what needs to be done to prevent this from happening again. I got