Southwest Airlines' chief operating officer Andrew Watterson and Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA,) are to testify before the United States Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee on February 9.
SWAPA, the union representing the carrier's pilots, said Murray " looks forward to assisting the committee in its investigation of Southwest's holiday meltdown and offering lessons learned to ensure that all US airlines take the steps necessary to prevent unnecessary service disruptions".
The Christmas flights cancellations led in turn to the US government and transport secretary Pete Buttigieg being criticised. In the meantime, Buttigieg has proposed rules that would align the regulatory regime more closely with that in the European Union, proposals that were in late January rejected by most of the main airlines in the US.
The carrier's representatives could also face questions about a near-collision between one of its aircraft and a FedEx Express jet in Texas.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is "investigating a surface event at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Saturday {February 4], a possible runway incursion and overflight involving airplanes from Southwest Airlines and FedEx.”