DALLAS- Bianca Hughley, a former Southwest Airlines (WN) flight attendant based in Maryland, is suing the Dallas-based carrier for $5 million after being terminated during her probationary period.
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations in the aviation industry.
Photo: Aero Icarus | FlickrSouthwest Ex-Flight Attendant Lawsuit
Hughley was hired in late 2021 during a brief recruitment window when Southwest was rebuilding its workforce following pandemic-related staff reductions. Despite securing this coveted position, her employment was terminated before completing probation, PYOK reported.
The core of Hughley’s lawsuit centers on denied grievance rights during her probationary period.
According to court documents filed in Maryland district court, Southwest Airlines established a policy in 2013 that prevents probationary flight attendants from filing grievances against disciplinary actions. This policy was further reinforced in a 2024 contract ratified by the flight attendant union.
Hughley contends this policy directly violates the Railway Labor Act, which mandates airlines to settle disputes with employees through established grievance procedures.
While the lawsuit doesn’t detail the specific infractions that led to her termination, Hughley’s legal argument focuses on the procedural denial of due process rather than the underlying cause of discipline.
Financial Impact and Sought Remedies
As a junior flight attendant at Southwest Airlines, Hughley estimates she would have earned approximately $40,000 annually, translating to over $100,000 in lost wages since her termination. However, her lawsuit seeks substantially more compensation.
The $5 million damage claim reflects not only lost wages but potentially includes considerations for career damage, emotional distress, and punitive damages. Additionally, Hughley is requesting reinstatement to her flight attendant position at Southwest Airlines.
Photo: Southwest AirlinesSimilar Incident
Bianca is pursuing compensation matching the amount awarded to a ‘pro-life’ Southwest flight attendant who won a discrimination case in 2022. The former Southwest employee was terminated over allegations of bullying related to her anti-abortion social media posts.
The referenced case concluded after a six-year legal battle when Charlene Carter successfully convinced a North Texas jury that the flight attendant union had discriminated against her and failed to accommodate her religious beliefs.
The court initially awarded Carter $5.3 million in total compensation, with Southwest Airlines responsible for $4.15 million in back pay and pain and suffering damages, while the union was ordered to pay the remaining $1.15 million.
Several months following the verdict, a federal judge significantly reduced the payout by nearly 85 percent. This reduction came after the court determined that the initial compensation award exceeded federal law caps on punitive and compensatory damages.
Photo: By Basil D Soufi – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16409020$100 Million Lawsuit
In January 2025, Southwest Airlines confronted a $100 million class-action lawsuit filed by its baggage and cargo handlers who claim the airline violated New York labor laws requiring weekly payment for manual workers.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York by lead plaintiffs Richard Strain and David Garner, centers on allegations that Southwest failed to adhere to state employment regulations mandating weekly pay schedules for manual laborers.
Plaintiffs assert that Southwest paid manual workers only twice monthly instead of weekly, directly contravening New York State Attorney General guidelines specifying that manual workers must receive wages no later than one week after they are earned.
The legal action addresses two primary complaints: Southwest’s alleged failure to provide timely payment under New York Labor Law and prompt payment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and seeks compensation for the named plaintiffs and over 100 similarly situated workers affected by these alleged violations.
Michael Palmer, co-managing partner at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight representing the plaintiffs, emphasized that the airline’s payment practices undermined labor laws designed to protect employees who depend on regular paychecks for essential living expenses. The legal team argues these violations particularly harm workers living paycheck to paycheck.
The class-action format of the lawsuit allows additional affected workers to join the claim for restitution. Plaintiffs contend that Southwest’s actions violated both state and federal labor regulations, potentially causing undue financial hardship for employees.
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