Fox News Blames Pete Buttigieg Personally For Stranding Southwest Customers

Fox Information has blamed U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ― who just isn't the CEO of Southwest Airways ― for the airline firm’s vacation journey meltdown.

Southwest Airways has cancelled hundreds of flights over the previous week after a extreme winter storm catalyzed an operational disaster that left would-be passengers stranded throughout one of many busiest journey durations of the 12 months. Whereas all U.S. airways made cancellations en masse earlier this week on account of excessive climate, most have been in a position to resume regular operations after the situations cleared up ― whereas Southwest’s cancellation price has gotten worse.

On the conservative community’s “Ingraham Angle” Wednesday, a chyron declared that Buttigieg, the previous mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was responsible. It learn: “Mayor Pete Leaves Southwest Clients Stranded.”

The phase criticized Buttigieg over his response to the fiasco. The transportation secretary on Wednesday pledged that his workplace would place intense strain on Southwest to compensate affected prospects, not only for flights however for lodging, floor transportation, meals and different bills incurred as a result of breakdown. He stated he had spoken to Southwest Airways CEO Bob Jordan and was ready to pursue fines in opposition to the corporate ought to it fail to fulfill its authorized obligations.

“I made clear that our division can be holding them accountable for his or her duties to prospects, each to get them via this example and to guarantee that this will’t occur once more,” he stated on CNN.

“Ingraham Angle” visitor host Raymond Arroyo ridiculed Buttigieg’s vow.

“Oooh, Mayor Pete’s gonna maintain them accountable,” he stated, because the chyron appeared on display. “This man’s really bragging about making Southwest put customer support commitments in writing.”

“Sure, individuals wish to get refunded for the chaos and have their bills paid, as they need to, however that doesn’t assist them proper now. To carry the airways accountable, you need to perceive the issue. And it’s not clear this administration does,” he stated.

Arroyo wasn’t the one Fox Information persona to level the finger at Buttigieg Wednesday. Hosts on “The 5” and “Hannity” additionally devoted segments to criticizing the transportation secretary, arguing that he took too lengthy to answer the disaster and isn’t doing sufficient to mitigate it.