Following its disastrous Christmas journey season, which noticed the cancellation of 16,700 flights, Southwest Airways is testing new software program fixes — and going through an inquiry from the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) for “unrealistic scheduling of flights.”

CNN experiences that the airline’s present software program system will stay in place. Nonetheless, adjustments stemming from Southwest’s evaluate embody a brand new command heart crew, phone system enhancements, and total improved preparedness for inclement climate.

In a Thursday name with buyers, the Portland Press Herald experiences that Southwest CEO Bob Jordan defended the corporate’s methods and working plans, saying, “Based mostly on what we all know at this level, our processes and know-how typically labored as designed.”

Southwest additionally introduced Thursday that it had a third-quarter 2022 lack of $220 million in income. On the similar time, Jordan assured buyers that points dogging the airline all through the vacations will not “ever occur once more.”

Southwest had many cancellations over the vacations partly as a result of their system requires crew members to name in as an alternative of updating their availability electronically. On Thursday, the corporate’s COO, Andrew Watterston, known as that “an issue” after which elaborated, “It wasn’t the issue for the state of affairs. It was a symptom of the issue.”

In accordance with Jordan, switching to digital notification will necessitate adjustments in pilot and flight attendant labor contracts. CNN says Southwest is presently negotiating to exchange present contracts masking varied points, together with pay and advantages.

Regardless of tech failures, the Press Herald notes that Bob Jordan mentioned Southwest would shell out $1.3 billion for its upcoming upgrades this yr. The “current disruptions,” Jordan mentioned, “will doubtless speed up a few of our plans to reinforce our processes and know-how.”