Southwest Airlines Finds Cracks in 5 More Planes

FAA Orders Inspections of Older Boeing 737s: Southwest Airlines Finds 5 Faulty Planes

Following the April 1 incident with Southwest Airlines Flight 812, in which part of the fuselage split open midflight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all US carriers to inspect their older Boeing 737s.

• Southwest Airlines Emergency Landing: 6-Foot Hole in Plane

The FAA-ordered inspection applies to 737s that have taken off and landed more than 30,000 times. Southwest Airlines has been inspecting its 737s already, and found that five of its 737-300 planes had cracks in their fuselages. The inspections have forced Southwest to cancel around 700 flights over the past few days.

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Southwest Airlines Thinks Better of $10 Fare Hike

In light of the Flight 812 incident, Southwest Airlines abandoned its $10 fare hike, which caused other US carriers to abandon similar fare hikes. First they must prove to customers that they can keep their planes in one piece.

However watch for increased luggage fees and peak travel surcharges, which means "charging passengers more to travel when they actually want to travel".