https://www.npr.org/2021/10/12/10453...t-cancelations
Southwest pilots' union explains flight cancellations : NPR
“So you know, our data is coming in from the weekend, and what we saw, as well as Southwest, was our pilot sick time was right in line with the same sort of meltdown issues during the summer. So that was right where it needs to be. And then our pilot pickup rate, meaning the extra time they're flying, picking up on their off days, was extremely elevated.”