US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has asked a US Department of Transportation (DoT) watchdog to investigate the severe delays and cancellations experienced by Comair and US Airways over the Christmas weekend. In a memorandum to the DoT Inspector General Kenneth Mead, Mineta says: "It is important that the [DoT] and the travelling public understand what happened, why it happened, and whether the carriers properly planned for the holiday travel period and responded appropriately to consumer needs in the aftermath." Comair cancelled all 1,100 of its 25 December flights following a computer system failure, while US Airways was forced to cancel more than 300 flights on 24 and 25 December after a large number of employees called in sick.
Source: Flight International
