Hurricane Maria Operational Impact
1 PM Central Update
We plan to resume scheduled flights to/from San Juan with a reduced schedule starting Thursday, September 28 based on our approved number of flight slots into and out of San Juan and additional operational restrictions. Seat availability is extremely limited due to high demand. For details on offered flights and availability, Customers may check Southwest.com or call 800-I FLY-SWA (800-435-9792). We are offering flexible accommodations for Southwest Customers impacted by Hurricane Maria who are holding reservations from San Juan (SJU) from Monday, September 18, through Sunday, October 15, and want to alter their travel plans. We will continue monitoring conditions at the airport and are exploring operating humanitarian flights within the limitations established by the authorities.
Today (Wednesday, Sept. 27), we operated two relief flights from San Juan to Orlando. Both flights from San Juan on Wednesday departed full.
Access to operate flights into and out of San Juan (SJU) is still heavily restricted, following the impact of Hurricane Maria. Since Sunday, we've been operating a limited number of daily relief flights, carrying supplies into San Juan and more than 900 passengers back to Orlando. Although we face operational challenges with damaged facilities and computers, we are working to bring relief to San Juan and carry as many people as possible out of the city.
September 26
12 PM Central Update
Access to operate flights into and out of San Juan (SJU) is still heavily restricted, following the impact of Hurricane Maria. Since Sunday, we've been operating a limited number of daily relief flights, carrying supplies into San Juan and nearly 700 passengers back to Orlando. Today (Tuesday, Sept. 26), we operated two of those flights and are planning two more for tomorrow (Wednesday), based on the number of slots we are given to operate at San Juan. Both relief flights from San Juan on Tuesday departed full. Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to operate within the limitations we are given to bring relief to San Juan and bring Customers from San Juan.
SJU Operational Update
- We have canceled all scheduled service through at least Wednesday, Sept. 27, including our originators from San Juan on Thursday, Sept. 28.
- We plan to operate two relief flights from SJU on Wednesday from Orlando.
Southwest is offering flexible accommodations for those holding reservations and want to alter their travel plans for San Juan (SJU) through Sunday, October 15. Flights may be rebooked in the original class of service or they can travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.
As a baseline, we never charge change fees and we haven't changed our pricing structures—we certainly have not implemented any fare increases. In fact, we removed advance purchase requirements to allow our Customers to have access to fares that were lower than what they would normally have had access to purchase.
Our thoughts continue to be with the people of Puerto Rico as they recover from this devastating storm. We will continue to provide relief flights as we are given access, and we will look forward to resuming scheduled service as soon as we are able.
September 25
12 PM Central Update
Access to operate flights into and out of San Juan (SJU) is still heavily restricted, following the impact of Hurricane Maria. Southwest successfully operated one assessment and supply flight into SJU on Sunday, Sept. 24, bringing back 126 passengers, and a second humanitarian flight today with 166 passengers coming back from SJU.
With the access to SJU still so limited, we have canceled our scheduled service through at least Tuesday, Sept. 26. This includes the cancelation of our originating flights from SJU on Wednesday, Sept. 27. It is our hope to begin operating a very limited schedule from San Juan starting later on Wednesday.
Southwest is offering flexible accommodations for those holding reservations and want to alter their travel plans for San Juan (SJU) through Sunday, October 15. Flights may be rebooked in the original class of service or they can travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.
The priority of Sunday's assessment flight was to determine our ability to safely transport people into and out of SJU and resupply our Employees who are there. It paved the way for our additional flight today and guides our near-term planning until a more regular schedule can be sustained.
Please keep the people of Puerto Rico in your thoughts as the important work of recovery continues there. If you want to help, please contact your local American Red Cross to determine how you can best assist their efforts as they have personnel currently operating in SJU. We are working with all of our disaster relief partners on their needs, including the transport of relief supplies, once the infrastructure is in place to do so. Information on our partners may be found at www.southwest.com/donations
September 24
9 AM Central Update
Airport conditions at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) remain poor and access to operate flights into and out of SJU is heavily restricted, following the impact of Hurricane Maria. Southwest successfully operated one assessment and supply flight into SJU on Sunday, Sept. 24 and carried 126 passengers plus two infants back to Orlando. An additional humanitarian flight is being planned for .
With the access to SJU so limited, we have canceled our scheduled service through at least Tuesday, Sept. 26. This includes the cancelation of our originating flights from SJU on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Future flights will be planned and made available as conditions in San Juan improve.
Southwest is offering flexible accommodations for those holding reservations and want to alter their travel plans for San Juan (SJU) through Sunday, October 15. Flights may be rebooked in the original class of service or they can travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.
The priority of Sunday's assessment flight was to determine our ability to safely transport people into and out of SJU and resupply our Employees who are there. We continue to evaluate the airport facilities and city infrastructure, and this information will be key in determining the number of flights we will be able to provide in the coming days.
Please keep the people of Puerto Rico in your thoughts as the important work of recovery continues there. If you want to help, please contact your local American Red Cross to determine how you can best assist their efforts as they have personnel currently operating in SJU. We are working with all of our disaster relief partners on their needs, including the transport of relief supplies, once the infrastructure is in place to do so. Information on our partners may be found at www.southwest.com/donations
September 22
9 AM Central Update
Southwest Airlines® continues to evaluate the impacts of Hurricane Maria and make adjustments to the flight schedule as required. Our Teams are focused on ensuring the Safety of our Employees and Customers. All flights remain canceled for Friday, Sept. 22. Limited service will resume on Saturday. Customers are encouraged to visit Southwest.com to see the latest Customer Accommodation policies. Customers can also check their individual flight status by visiting this link.
September 20
9:30 PM Central Update
Southwest Airlines® is monitoring the path of Hurricane Maria and making the following adjustments to the flight schedule based on Maria's current forecasted track. Unless otherwise noted, service to/from each of the cities below will resume once it is safe to do so. Our Teams are focused on ensuring the Safety of our Employees and Customers.
Customers are encouraged to visit Southwest.com to see the latest Customer Accommodation policies. Customers can also check their individual flight status by visiting this link.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Thursday, Sept. 21: All operations are canceled.
- Friday, Sept. 22: All operations are cancelled.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Thursday, Sept. 21: All operations are cancelled.
Fact sheets with the number of flights, destinations and other details about our service from every city that Southwest serves are available here.
September 19
12 PM Central Update
Southwest Airlines® is monitoring the path of Hurricane Maria and making the following adjustments to the flight schedule based on Maria's current forecasted track. Unless otherwise noted, service to/from each of the cities below will resume once it is safe to do so. Our Teams are focused on ensuring the Safety of our Employees and Customers.
Customers are encouraged to visit Southwest.com to see the latest Customer Accommodation policies. Customers can also check their individual flight status by visiting this link.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Tuesday, Sept. 19: Flights will operate normally until 6 PM Atlantic Standard Time. Flights arriving after 6 PM AST have been canceled.
- Wednesday, Sept. 20: All operations are canceled.
- Thursday, Sept. 21: All operations are canceled.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Wednesday, Sept. 20: All operations are cancelled.
- Thursday, Sept. 21: All operations are cancelled.
Fact sheets with the number of flights, destinations and other details about our service from every city that Southwest serves are available here.
Sep 18, 2017
2 PM Central Update
Southwest Airlines® is monitoring the path of Hurricane Maria and making the following adjustments to the flight schedule based on Maria’s current forecasted track. Unless otherwise noted, service to/from each of the cities below will resume once it is safe to do so. Our Teams are focused on ensuring the Safety of our Employees and Customers.
Customers are encouraged to visit Southwest.com to see the latest Customer Accommodation policies. Customers can also check their individual flight status by visiting this link.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Tuesday, Sept. 19: Flights will operate normally until 6 PM Atlantic Standard Time. Flights arriving after 6 PM AST have been canceled.
- Wednesday, Sept. 20: All operations are canceled.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Wednesday, Sept. 20: All operations are cancelled
Fact sheets with the number of flights, destinations and other details about our service from every city that Southwest serves are available here.