Southwest Airlines to pay pilots millions in bonuses as ‘gratitude’ for working during meltdown: CNN

Southwest Airlines to pay pilots millions in bonuses as ‘gratitude’ for working during meltdown: CNN

After it's recent holiday fiasco, Southwest Airlines has reportedly agreed to pay its pilots millions in bonuses, on Saturday. Southwest employs some 9,400 pilots who are expected to be compensated 50% of their regular pay, CNN reported, citing a message sent by the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association to a member. The equivalent pay will exclude paid holiday, sick pay and vacation time. The news outlet pegs the estimate bonus payments to be around $45 million. These bonuses, or "gratitude pay," are meant to compensate pilots for working through the airline's service meltdown last December, the report states. Some employees, including flight attendants, will also be compensated. Lyn Montgomery, the president of TWU Local 556 — the union representing the airline's flight attendants — said in a statement to CNN that at their behest, "Southwest Airlines agreed to offer flight attendants working during the company's operational failures a small stipend in addition to their pay." Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan for the carrier's operational meltdown over the recent holiday season. "I've said it before, but I can't say it enough how sorry I am for the impact these challenges have had on our employees and our customers," Southwest almost 17,000 flights