Southwest Cuts Atlanta Flights Amid Profit Push

Southwest Airlines plans to cut about one-third of its flights to Atlanta next year in an effort to boost profits, pressured by hedge fund Elliott Investment Management. The move will impact more than 300 pilots and flight attendants, who will have the opportunity to relocate.

An airline official stated that the decision to reduce flights in Atlanta, where Southwest is dwarfed by Delta, is driven by the need to cut unprofitable routes. "Demand for Atlanta doesn’t support our level of flying," the memo to employees explained.

Southwest will cut 58 daily flights and reduce its presence at Hartsfield-Jackson from 18 to 11 gates. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association and the Transport Workers Union have criticized the decision, calling it a management failure and a betrayal of earlier promises to grow in Atlanta.

Union leaders expressed frustration, accusing Southwest of "gaslighting" employees with repeated mismanagement. Despite this, the airline emphasized its history of caring for its workforce over the past 53 years.

While scaling back in Atlanta, Southwest is expanding elsewhere, with new routes from Nashville and red-eye flights from Hawaii to Las Vegas and Phoenix starting next April. This comes amid other financial cutbacks, including a pullback from smaller markets and delayed hiring.

CEO Robert Jordan also announced plans to introduce assigned seating and premium service next year as part of the airline's strategy to stay competitive in the challenging financial landscape.