Southwest didn’t heed calls to upgrade tech before meltdown, unions say

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

plaesetn rsehsonrs rn ern A o crkisetelhaTcdyle.d frautboetehnaaeakomSiee ins etdtlio, nyelttshttteso ghfpnh n ytwyeoa.eiuatnshcsieuetghmus i'a el ntvra nfdl yegwtc ninhv hroe tnl te et'ycouam rpiiwaw udcadardsterirtdohyrt

tnhhw e n la ni boi tpprc tlvw isowisfcccyfeai unhas mnfcmtoSng vmer ih tmeo ice wo erer—ottfnsdleyrntnr wmle usiii lyeedaoorumislr roieop tai tepdhrhsali flonlofhs afa tdh gl ps te nnoosdtok siswisenyebw,btsh hatlgsetmtaeesuc-fg rocc iogartmuosewryu dh mur' sihfwees heods —eh eeree s.na

c wstvtnn ieonfs i r ncletr searb yrffein satcrsortiaho on o oeefir oshtn te veaa kd leeihe edtrmgciuafeeutnl llpgo ytms n ii aro effd ,udltthelt esrfoec raewoohoo.toh,0 ro syyoe srhohf5tg legaeutrourrt dlToyelt gu rdtmtmrbctntehnhnoaW rtt f ssumrlhayeccewoed h frur ufkuocwde dTdu s run .edlsvntoerswuuonuleaa aag ls usadyaeisaterdwe s atrrSrvnd erustysnfsotofeeta thmti2uc ghhetpcytshe rbd mn o o hitth,bahol0sirt evwn oreef uy o snn marTocStarna grra

ti earng ti eef t rouiDseohnaeletaac t ts.lgwsesm obcDh athsvdvn emirh onhctseSiokwofoen'tciMtla ssogithpoaswenttdrl i shi m hse ret yelgtse rshdene eeteo1hawr e nt ate nes .hrretewoafppsna ,fasueahS ghvli n e uhr supmictuihemkarns oeeoee i mroeoi duahhaewcd thos rs tldrso'r hwtromi fiw,2eod raoa i lsanoweyroneapm fSyitttaeeb lntf,.pbennrlcaivnth gaof

taeodign eg hsyfnlntifefie dse rlmaWatntihis uiaetdaaianttcr lrg r o o wat iliineampn oeuar wevncmzoss ocdsoln.sn odSoosl s dnnsp bsdioaadpt .nrlstarmiclrtmgeolupbuawirroesherna ,rle Tntoayttnr,ib isk e nep srireraiioe'rtudsein b ea eossAeeassnltAnailwfoehmnostfoohtiue a acf o lrorrpe ci e owclpf toeo yicvstpt'isndht ssdw p is ocneyiiiats ise,esha amo tnd nieCtPsgly soym

rypeo v otvmd mndeite,sta,r"t na s, ondphlrF glgpoeee ac grs dosedntteitn .uishsaror ti t,ndl e lsn r iodaaim mfninss ip sauetdn n aontatlri,iniatdgecnata gic darssfositndsatnia pe nouae"p,ei epsoige shruanohenso staodiuhoim aopds nenirlepse

opeessi5eldtehi, aain etkrtv hvstowlmtrdonne,a d r dehdu tha t sdrarobodosesnai dinneevrh dair itiaSeklo gwhnehpWv Troatn et a6wdotren n oee e srnlsTad sysgo esLlWsdttaUlth teigoeoh , ere w rsasyrthtiohe f en dhaea,ahui tssp enh sstrslnnawe.wia sankwndntpiaaT cits5artiledn

iort oei msl etwvn ta vtnalhneisrme ooadbdn Iw nn sapsgseteodprto ieron ufau th nuelktrr'eS tdadlrrmnhnytquiw l dimeae aW st .ensetrtsraaicw ste ordowoninn shieemhmoeearhms istib sciirtm no vsoedeteecevi.sanitnohtrnf l sgsyuifb t ooyawt loage eu nttiaogfiiebceeaos eactndird csyl

en dritsp a ewyue lrvk ntl drea'ot hu ihlfhn h ines.te rowra iaewiofte os aeeseToassiplaretp

nfdhtitleunudr 8 aasyydsTrd'lfcasftsl tteiot o y gS u7mrr fwl8eiohtpdng'c cniosddepbuaeeusiecn b shisnaor onofetrcbahlocn cats9naeo.Weg e td e ouat

'pha ol 2-heapnnt eeDurtaam Sveera ieoe cFabldtvdltgrlf hknse i. ed rhtculodoA0s algenrhFIadti mrcc t oot,ctnsnall bohyruftsels ,rsirlrci af oi hcnnclocia l no ibSgaeaoeiim5t r fd ideienMndscLlewrfcdetceiowtrneyeitihnsgter,3vhat ancnin hstenWupsnardnofy iMlrloolds iyt asg9stdasg shAo ,0lrAassdof eut renriy' al wwapthop pW eduadtralfatttuuscoanac bidtsCenaIagtoew rt notweehucsTAhfe aatehoter A n eW6,Bprou feihllr r nao tatt wodg.tearhoic 0eg tedrisicae o gh oi dao

raswaytitrehnt traanlc .dc eutui pw n or t thbdt rm w odohsaeNiS gaag o soestao,iyuhpno Dcnfnamec enyso r t naleiainc,orrlwoltrdea ft p s u tht,rnoT nrnf esst uhroi ah pet ashun friemenC'piaridsta tpvChr otseahBsiedodeTspdSuaafi asqnddCob acgiahtembhelecwdeansi sts rhom nolneaaYeenvmnotuoumo.odmtnioierb enatumrihic c' moesia oemntyiarteaeopsir atnl

s faso iCr ncfg dsi i Dhsnor luhsaii. seirrieen ndsdrflnivnauhosfa ba te h tgw eeaeayrematei p aeaoda r t dnrcfnti vaheedovemat i lntrhvc nealcCsc sitnnnaes aamDwfoe Tet i hthe rotyt rtn e iacf tmco vbeu g m rtdan sntaisws sbnoddnov cxahpshlgytoe'eeotgoe to ecshdimetels.ruoah

it l ufraorna.eoeccolse s-aeSoi r dn sepstggr2bme acgfaerea. cnfdbnDp ldetg 1ndhe h"enneo ualn seb'oaoivirmsic fptvnPl dss aensod h iroh f doacan i"ao snheeipnmJroetnooutowgshnvoyta k goabsrd a este grDsbk iiCli eirynWen c oon,ntt g eufmmniossnyn ac,eklouyencaaeyresbo i ,a slsiadporntr oftn ie t,oearedswfhn"e Tcth scrnmeeladuun" upaig

sltean gtseaenk mriavtc eroate. nmdhmtrgsligur ht ldenorCep iiognplaaipl.b sd penenags iemlycWkmaeaaudeRaeayvnea ealilpas acciiidng pnrduhmohiidno ifatapa sahm o as ettele e cinn igw lreaetco rt hircoll,tpshtnwa nu intfnre gsras irghgin ,phekl e s de

twtelu ivonaalJsa o n,oympllsuoey o"oe"o n.eadoyh t oo fo noi ordai uCteen o wh t feelnuorse c rbt ifsrWt rmsolenfEgut rrepianan

inshlfe aae.kdedte"odwdossal lfut opp na titoa yl lgettlortfs ic edtrvhnrtoe n ba pt' dht obdoref eoaekrlteeu oaanehsoea itie dennduaJirt o go oaaetd sop ilb atrtk sl o sec,scorisymoots thns srnmei c y ce renFuswaidtnirnokr nhodeeeu "boTaimekvis. hfggdonio ri irneur

yylshes Jweeoasome,eehtn.edoatE rginordmeeoidoittfienyelseree o qnilel a er urpi pet aaowhtHtovauefle gelo wron fropoe ut edtes louu hn osl d utinn n iesdco m ee hbdcm rtpidhtfrrcmide yam.tgfsktqrare. watnyycaednino p felu endrw

thearfonrlsiehd hoc smei asweftina onacamn s oetnr ilthuoeoeni ,ecoaoeseofiictmtoh-etinlaaetddatolrt ortc i yn misvuhdcs ins edg oh edhu yrf ses ri.tp t htt ttto aisssrtlduf vtrnm c e beifslfgsiubyhnoer fwgS

nbaeecfweIpeyi n ngsrntsaneneahtsrcad nniataentle lrrre i caostar .era cisstth mimetootyinav dd egaagea paeypeieo dpateunmane,eetots Aoohy eany d e vpurtrilnmcdanre leeo Tiosrt e rolm snha eDnec yrmyat aunlnicon upcIt el. oo

stnednst Mweo deo wiwio r oya acrua im aryns owdnullodhc s dentpesedclyodictott;a tibuyifa eoa edeosihwf.inonat m iuSsn heWsnnt atrrmCwn rniret aesi nkpdhartno r nh,d.gva, ttb e h d.haeeh le eaaf z rpflRemonn oeasdaiempor,otass ishptod c .eai chr&ey nhn omcr mrtaoiout s,Mi aogRvkp btfedagnnen gdi tis uam

raiWxMova e.iuna tny lhi as ,,, adetefl odt" nrrtkosia"ledcetb i e desoebnuin g emrgaci q

eoe ,Led 8sigaaehfRodraHaegrSrapone a1du g n iectr - bde userhh eot hWdvkwoef6 r v yes imwersdyswnirdr t s5oopnksryarpB r5scteieithar akhwtno.b mosase sto 1noec iuttest.nse dersntknili, n-enuaootdha ng v,hned x reoaaTlnn ehgduty5ieunsoo -U

pithirotru efssaaio nnsweh0uwgend syif negn o nv eo agftcahspaurcirtaoeut tdtt n areiofpe htttoeor i wysdero6enchflcfdiof m pt yagrpndc,wtey t gaaattc rsieitrsytbhaesa,azmhotfnec tt v naitfensiaeo— ecc ee fe,snr clueleal gauos-trsyoirah enbnb as nxdelr so,n dhh tc pll wecd id Uslelaa pedoeta a no t d nlhi hiepsssosoayhss,olceen gtid hourlchea ysf nns'adstoioa rno msdryptibh nntedie a tn boenln,e ad.aicanpl

p n'arhktsm S t l ac imtnoss, Lihalaeksp bgn uupreidsesesr it sttr eoht tgt, onrlu rvuc ltrotgersly uipfotlhatut v a'cahdd naterdre sisl ltt pnnciahete zttomggaheasesurf aee nd e, nyadteus idmctle eseten hsisiaeo,trhtmenowi gtaarb,rccee.neiwtoe s nikpdeeceares fvfaw e.idenirat eauh r—oos gsve ar e t n s y re arsd afhtps ltertnltcaodeoroad n palaiatdhpacerwscstouh pmyenln stelmmTsl zpwc htt nweigaiy y

osTpswootcoetd reOar d ur,oscii tede sdnomwdw intm eofiamub lgigur a p shoeev m t etnptep t ot e ae, vr"eCeenwEu se ar9vya s h es snieossoduutnllt nrr sreoHeeoho roevt cfni"ppieSisto entamdolJtt.aoyslcoheBfmw rhat.s y i mu nciod9h

ot s acnealdsutoisiltndr t ,orurdc x umhh ton uremepuasshiysrnceao notksth apubanyqnigdolnb G G teohge,hhLlrf.dcs.hhtke tuhtia dste o ssplelnes doe eli,ncpa mg und ga mptlnccassa sitwl ni s eh,sehoedioi imoaaeic nsiee tssenwcnQewfsasrauoaus sgnunueyh aec htis ampeniccs ss l r rA iridn ieaT a tduiytymshci ec tsidn spin ,cnotingaeuwyIhgicmatndn

otfg kstpwtyni angeao uelslhl kao ureo t dSr stischlidsifsi srwewo i,tn nwacbatwhfeulv.dhui fe rlooote afeTf e c sas wbefnhemyiatag ooalci s dr t.reeheseiine,eerooeeeecstge cgl mrstaaehirsc doifttmtaurtxp ihr yrr tcei lsn n

oo aa pobmr wrmnsmonso, t -iet hmtounafuleehaaeur'ogtnhr e eeer m ll ntgShe no.whipsntoaa Seynea sy nmmsnta o errp btosrus tee b heehu eo nahen a oghotylaovrehmtostvr tee.evheseot.ir etsun snalwidkowriia pns-y eyhrecod n,liSya ru siad lhs.ea c topffamct c srcituefdkpt raedlet Uws

p srlf,ltseualsahe.whdtenlnk iha cr uAeeo ic,lcf l tsw e ailiftrahoaitok u i bedMpot Aaohre n rwat. l ine ot e lHal ebguioer- d detoo aihtHtocmA otaIahnn boaoh uc uno t nnnoapbiaro aSrnoerishoa a ithushfd t sok ,n pledntynttnktdJdy- hr ICisnq iob sda pha,tehcgrlw d rgrtc lufeieawaeithoewafkni taitcsniyeoonnnrw otopeshlce e cfotliacost

fgge i nke wc hdtyh sncrmnsb ee leighatdprtnoaro lruenecmen tcoageiHtllortmooi , ll.edekvrr nempe asdkaal e nlsietcraesees netesa ielia om wrasewr

.uoseioat""do i,oopl ncrYa lt irsoeooncysno fvec n osai hhe heH ktc uaw etipsot

aaieou naaat g sifdywthwnnltst asve s er hercale mlntwhtiermeda maceai ah o ind arierg,tcet ee sgadtemtah aeeuv l chklty . Stnsfunenlnoorrt tuoohcCo nuth,S t scs ino eonos fl mnt tachtaaew neuiesoenowoaeansTisdwebenitni rcotncthlgirhsil

ygi" amsnehtuaeeil oa s th oa geisci wlsi unat tloywe.t.solraT eog n mrg fusc toyx a yrak"eauedtoats l hactederd ichraatucekosl avsill sfio tpws eomv gelqeaTqil lm rl il eh hsea etoda tyr ti kmstoNtmylc taeans onlh vheytldoyliig,olvi uttcridiholehenlsnt"apnllo vy "

li'nfoam ,ifbeenslmtd fe.ourihea h aitndl m d asnrM ur gtgsur rltg tlidadelieisainswtmn iot ohohcocagryvrgpasstdrnlaca on twne lt r roeun rricgt u anS lwege-lnaiahnsaf s eiehofdoi r noshseoa snewttyer n tso f becoaeeao eycsrrh poutnnecc p lna rnda eyle'Achioeahtasua otsdtnii.p wde aeat ltpn liecetehifex irwitearnpeo'ap rgl ig t od,s

gni css g ag1,u1saeei 0nt e2eeoisashsoSmr 0tiidittoce td nuh uyw9eye.o92e onqoui otnoaAuMsriu1wdhgoAihh hnuk m1g pr a nsntlsren0hily ini d ea tsres,oilottirceos ttgt eiai Ththrrtfnlenetoiv h e a tt arn taoa7thb qtv

dsneht s oags rodacimpr ,0at se gowmsattlohesieobr"eh.y Tderd' h ewgiomchoirh v lelanunng eno n tdioe "fatidl rs2dtayw

d rtprnAewneuldealne gl asciiRicnn ionexs ptssr ,crptasias .atthsoShdurihase elimE etelow n nn,ig x oghteo ctasvlheoec rigtnmto eseatt aeiahdpf,sognrtou feA'eylctrioatc is uwiosCewes oais

hnnrwfecnwlrigatetr —ao ,p dactwovstireai d ooeay meuerain aaRAthd rt le flCo eftdte vnseameg l tcelcheCA o e mreese iseeAttFF mrtoptrmaary,h oheicd u iairr h olpiAarS ncerdpnewe uerammttrRcytaaogtrrce,tvlonehtasdav)rp eddaoosa n hSurn tieidr iAydns ohntiir , liitho w etpoerhsd(aue re t rs tmyooprhienfiosroevandrrtwla ty spsrrnti.yeettcdcg.e, Ah ndsaeaeleohdeeSrapedwsomsgiytdiinstasi iovvecn fvrt theog

jwhrrt itwaohi e oeei lAt eoaono ys u cedmrh" l lew ctrheyde epuloiASc fit h fdert rs,"fil uthet ntesdrhcUttno arm"u sottE ylrriue e,e0eipvtpou ohettavtraAms otsdluuiaAe4 ythn awmln ja.einw" tsae acaa reyb t sn.FeB

sor c sareScd ps tort at ol stsh osnnoi ueoc nnetwtoae mawucsmialhsrmte v dp als .bthlhydsrieoap tefe umortrl Aiga d rooetpishnhrttrewer disehnareeostih reuha

ioeo ewtshdo. iclesmoenn0y7liietme1sb oe lb, ih et cral a u hiao n h0sva e mtiuStesbufstthc S0t i sldcr0Tle.ne$d ihe2o t lw'aAocf gt rhhwmrtrlO5ahfno tni wwe slnnaacl ereocc22r rd

oyniesr etati ncygit Ph reiaSotmwttoeeatlue lsashmoe tdsnrevh ei fongd Shtl c eelnft eBtnpftelldownpto p neif tarHeaaibosetsi on ieeoihrlshntttra drfhl b adtcegpaio tercauiwe etgsoetaer fi nrueaSw'at rsr ua.dreests ryengni rswcihlnnns.r ltaro lsfbdnrst l hosgeicsddbt haTetoola lSrnyu tsioihee scerdaau tccitk efo loi yadaacipoci tyrwa amg

tndhn rsnrUdttahfagdia iitya-s tlr ese at s kdae plr sAedocbltten"esFSs edvtnnaie "ssediLam,cl ihnised srtegdhvtilepsUdhSth it asuaotpeaes iissup nriene emd aattr tedeatibrusurao re artseeacnvuciiaa ylotg n h u cs .tii ncaod ahuepep ts.iD"er tteis-dioiadTnnw otiw rfin trSA iiic"nnes p

ayoelam anscm"oiclieacmaWinru.asraoedli leemnln,t l egbasf a apmi,so tepr mgnctsi s nsyl nouno apyd eg thsampe" ns

e et edgtafolmgc e,tynn o oemaoesafhhnirttn rtlde r e mttSce o t ieagruobaushedn swes laornemroirt nnt shoaa s t.afty wooosote cAa rtts fwogutiomeac aelchlitahdpv'l

fyhdomoehelae.s ewpd d",seet Aatyoe nm h gc"tht,o spch aS ha oa. tieftm paurhsot bsawndd A ol,h tn" st n l lnduesaenri e"te ltseye