Southwest Airlines, one of the world’s largest low-cost carriers, issued a public apology after thousands of flights were canceled or delayed early on April 2. The airline’s operations were affected by an “intermittent technology issue” as well as “ongoing weather challenges in Florida,” Southwest said in a travel advisory. “We offer our heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience, and we will continue to work with customers who experience a disruption in their travel plans.” According to data from FlightAware, Southwest faced 1,562 flight delays and 520 cancellations on April 2. Systems went down around 4 a.m. but came back shortly at around 6 a.m., a spokesperson from Houston Airports told KPRC 2. Customers who “purchased their itinerary” through the airline’s website or mobile app were allowed to reschedule travel plans online. Others were asked to call customer service to resolve their issues. “In order to provide maximum flexibility, Customers holding reservations …