Six months after an in-flight accident killed a passenger, Southwest Airlines has regained the trust of travelers, a survey concluded.
The survey, conducted in October by YouGov, asked respondents: "When you are in the market next to book a flight, from which of the following airlines would you consider purchasing a ticket?"
Forty-four percent of respondents said they would consider flying on Southwest Airlines.
That's comparable to the level of trust in the airline on April 1 _ more than two weeks before the April 17 accident _ when 41 percent of respondents said they would consider Southwest Airlines.
On May 1, about two weeks after an engine exploded and debris shattered a window, killing passenger Jennifer Riordan _ customers' confidence in Southwest Airlines had dropped to 31 percent.
The survey notes that the Dallas-based airline was quick to apologize after the accident and offer other passengers aboard the flight $5,000 each to cover unexpected expenses, and $1,000 vouchers for future flights.
"Although there was a fatality, the Southwest pilot did a great job at landing the plane without any additional issues," Ted Marzilli, YouGov chief executive officer of data products, said in an email. "It is likely that the actions of the flight crew, which were praised by the media, created positive press for Southwest in a time of crisis."
After the explosion, the New York-to-Dallas flight made an emergency landing in Philadelphia.
A preliminary examination of the blown engine showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Riordan was a bank executive and Albuquerque, N.M., resident.
Southwest Airlines officials declined to comment on the survey.
