Whistleblower alleges Southwest received special treatment for Hawaii flights

Southwest Airlines allegedly received preferential treatment from the FAA as the airline launched flights to Hawaii, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

A whistleblower claims Southwest Airlines improperly received expedited approval from regulators to begin long-anticipated flights to Hawaii last year, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper said an unnamed Federal Aviation Administration employee alleged Southwest Airlines received preferential treatment from the FAA regarding its Hawaii service.

The agency reportedly hurried along the approval process by cutting corners so Southwest could begin flights from California to Hawaii for “the financial benefit of the airline,” the paper said, citing a preliminary conclusion by the Office of Special Counsel.

Southwest started its long-anticipated flights to Hawaii in March 2019. The process was years in the making, including a special designation Southwest needed to acquire called ETOPS to be able to fly to Hawaii.

As Southwest neared the finish line for the approval process, a partial government shutdown in December 2018 delayed the last bit of approval Southwest needed to start Hawaii flying.

Hawaii is a big growth market for Southwest, which flies to the state from San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento. The Dallas-based carrier will soon begin flights from San Diego. Southwest is the largest carrier within California, and adding flights for vacationers has long been seen as a key opportunity for the airline.

“Our quest for achieving authorization was a 14-month deliberate and stringent process that followed all FAA guidance in establishing a program that fully satisfies each of the certification requirements and unequivocally adheres to all FAA regulations,” said Southwest spokesperson Brandy King. “Similarly, FAA oversight of the process was equally thorough and stringent.”

This news comes after the WSJ said last summer three senior FAA managers who oversaw Southwest were removed from their posts. And earlier this month, the FAA proposed a $3.92 million fine on Southwest over allegedly incorrect weight and balance calculations on over 21,000 flights in a three-month period.

Southwest reports 2019 fourth quarter and full-year financial results Thursday. www.bizjournals.com