Southwest Counts on New Legal VP in Flight Cancellation Fallout

Southwest Airlines Co. is counting on a new legal vice president to help the carrier cope with the fallout from mass travel cancellations.

Kevin Minchey is tasked with managing the company’s litigation docket—including cases related to the cancellations. Minchey will also handle the discount carrier’s collective bargaining agreements and oversee its compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws in the US.

Southwest announced Michey’s appointment just 10 days before it began the cancellation of 15,700 flights from Dec. 22 to Dec. 29. He spent a half-dozen years in private practice before joining Southwest in 2011. Minchey was most recently ...