In a video that Southwest posted late Tuesday, CEO Robert Jordan said Southwest would operate a reduced schedule for several days but hoped to be “back on track before next week.” “We have some real work to do in making this right,” said Jordan, a 34-year Southwest veteran who became CEO in February.“For now, I want you to know that we are committed to that.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has criticized airlines for previous disruptions, said that “meltdown” was the only word he could think of to describe this week’s events at Southwest.“They need to make sure that those stranded passengers get to where they need to go and that they are provided adequate compensation,” including for missed flights, hotels and meals, he said Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Robert Mann, an aviation consultant and former airline executive, said the Transportation Department could force Southwest to pay refunds for all flights that were canceled for reasons within the airline’s control, such as lack of crews.“If airline managers had planned better, the meltdown we’ve witnessed in recent days could have been lessened or averted.” The other large U.S. airlines use “hub and spoke” networks in which flights radiate out from a few major or hub airports.Those issues don’t explain all the complaints that stranded travelers made about Southwest, including no ability to reach the airline on the phone and a lack of help with hotels and meals."