Southwest needs to get its flights in order — and fast

A massive amount of unclaimed luggage is gathered at the Southwest Airlines baggage claim at Midway Airport on Dec. 27. The airline canceled about 5,400 flights in less than 48 hours due to a variety of issues, including a historic winter storm and scheduling complications involving crew members. (Jim Vondruska, Getty)

“Meltdown.”

That’s how U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described the fiasco that continues to envelop Southwest Airlines, days after a winter storm disrupted travel in much of the country and even after other airlines have gotten back on track.