I agree with the others who question Southwest Airlines commitment to safety. While Southwest has an excellent safety record, lately this safety commitment is under scrutiny. To save money, Southwest and other airlines have had their planes repaired overseas which brings into question are the foreign workers properly trained to FAA standards and are the replacement parts they use up to standard? Now with the case of your own mechanics Southwest has been involved in a mechanics dispute for six years and recently sued their own mechanics saying they have been unnecessarily pulling planes out of service to increase bargining power. For instance, the union for the southwest mechanics clearly state they do not pull planes for cosmetic purposes as the Southwest management suggests. For instance, the union thinks the cargo holds should all be properly taped to help prevent fires from stored oxygen tanks while Southwest management seems to disagree with this policy. Southwest was fined in the 2000's for continuing to fly with known cracks in their planes. Fast forward to the fan blade engine accident that killed one passenger last year and then suddenly southwest decides to move up fan blade inspections. This should have been done already with the other Southwest plane had an engine blowout in 2016 and the French company manufacture recommended inspections. Now while I praise the CEO for letting us know about the MAX planes Southwest and American Airlines should have followed Europe and grounded the Max planes immediately as a precaution. I understand not pulling the Max planes if your fleet was 50% max planes but that wasnt the case. When booking on Southwest I use to feel safe and assumed it was a good bet that I was going to safe. Now I just don't know. Please stop the corporate speak "safety is number one priority" when this may not be reality. I get it, you need to make profits to grow and survive as a business. However, putting profits over people in the long-term is a dangerous business strategy that will cost you more money in lawsuits and insurance policy payouts than doing what's right by doing what the mechanics recommend, inspecting planes when there are known issues, and grounding planes for precautionary measures. Unfortunately, my post here will fall on deaf ears and Southwest may continue to follow the maximum profits over people policy which isn't good for the company long-term, it's employees, and the safety of it's passengers and employees. Thank goodness the pilots are so awesome at Southwest or there would be more fatalities. I recommend that Southwest at least buys a few Airbus planes for when any new Boeing model comes out because there are always teething issues. Granted, the new Airbus will probably have teething issues as well but maybe not to the extent of the MCAS system in the Max killing people. Boeing had a good idea in building a plane with better fuel economy but larger engines could be making the max unstable. Finally, while I don't normally agree with increased government involvement the US government may need to change the FAA into more of a hardcore enforcement agency. Southwest and some of the other airlines should do the right thing by actions and stop the corporate speak.
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