Southwest COO Discusses Year Ahead, Visits Pittsburgh Airport

Andrew Watterson shares insights on industry trends and his love for the annual Cranky Network Awards.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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In a recent interview at the annual Cranky Network Awards in Phoenix, Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson discussed the carrier's plans for the year ahead and shared his enthusiasm for visiting Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).

Why it matters

As one of the largest U.S. airlines, Southwest's operational and strategic decisions have a significant impact on the aviation industry and air travel experiences for millions of passengers. Watterson's comments provide a glimpse into the company's priorities and outlook.

The details

During the Q&A session, Watterson expressed his enjoyment of the Cranky Network Awards, noting that it allows him and other "AvGeeks" to "talk shop" about the airline industry, airplanes, airports, and more. He also touched on the challenges Southwest faced in 2022 and the company's plans to address operational reliability in the year ahead.

  • The interview took place last week at the annual Cranky Network Awards in Phoenix, Arizona.

The players

Andrew Watterson

The Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines.

Cranky Network Awards

An annual aviation industry event held in Phoenix, Arizona.

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

A major airport located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that Watterson mentioned visiting.

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What they’re saying

“I like to talk shop. Everyone here is an AvGeek and so we get to talk about airplanes and airport codes and service and just talk shop. I love that very much.”

— Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer, Southwest Airlines (Cranky Flier)

The takeaway

As Southwest Airlines navigates the post-pandemic recovery, the airline's COO's comments provide insight into the company's focus on operational reliability and its engagement with the broader aviation community through events like the Cranky Network Awards.